Rosacea can affect the eyes in a substantial minority of rosacea patients, with some estimates suggesting that 35-50% of those affected by rosacea have eye involvement. Symptoms of ocular or eye involvement by rosacea include itching or burning eyes, dilated blood vessels or bloodshot eyes, dryness, and light sensitivity. Ocular rosacea can also make wearing contact lenses uncomfortable. Conjunctivitis or irritation of the white part of the eye can occur with ocular rosacea, as can cysts of the glands lining the eyelids, called chalazions. Ocular rosacea can accompany skin, or cutaneous, rosacea, or occur all by itself without involvement of the facial skin.
