Ocular cicatricial pemphigoid + Ocular rosacea?

[Guest guest]

I was diagnosed with rosacea about 1-1/2 years ago after suffering

from dry, swollen, itchy eyes that were extremely sensitive to light.

I also had the characteristic (but still realtively minor, as yet)

facial manifestations.

I now have punctal plugs, take tetracycline and use MetroGel, and the

facial aspect is about 75 percent under control.

The ocular problems come and go, however. My ophthalmologist couldn't

explain some continuing corneal irregularities, but since my vision

stabilized, decided to wait for another month and see what happens.

I recently switched dermatologists, and my new skin doctor is

extremely proactive. She suffers from rosacea herself, and wasn't

convinced that my eye problems are completely the result of ocular

rosacea. She also tested me for H. pylori, which came back negative.

Two weeks ago, she performed two biopsies on my skin (from places

under my armpit where there was some irritation). The result,

apparently, is that I appear to be exhibiting antibodies for a rare

autoimmune disorder called cicatricial pemphigoid.

Treatment evidently ranges from prednisone to Cytoxan, neither of

which is too pleasant, I understand.

The literature notes that ocular forms of rosacea and cicatricial

pemphigoid often mimick each other. The presence of the antibodies,

however, may nail this down.

I'm visiting my dermatologist Wednesday for a consultation on how to

deal with this condition. I'm just wondering if any rosaceans here

have gone down this path.

Thanks,

Leigh Hanlon

Chicago, USA