Rosacea lymphoedema of the eyelid.
OBJECTIVE
To present a patient with rosacea lymphoedema of one upper eyelid resulting in unilateral complete ptosis.


METHODS
A 51-year-old white man presented with a 12-month history of progressive painless swelling of the left upper eyelid. An incisional biopsy of the upper eyelid was performed.


RESULTS
The biopsy showed dermal oedema with lymphangiectasia and telangiectasia, accompanied by a mild to moderate mixed chronic inflammatory infiltrate of lymphocytes, histiocytes, plasma cells and rare eosinophils. Stains for fungi and mycobacteria were negative. The lack of lichenoid reaction, dermal mucin or lip swelling indicated a lymphoedematous manifestation of rosacea. The patient was treated with minocycline and prednisolone with no effect.


CONCLUSIONS
Rosacea lymphoedema involving the eyelid, as in our case, is a rare complication and can present diagnostic and therapeutic challenges to the ophthalmologist.
Lai
Tze Foon
TF
Oculoplastic and Orbital Unit, Department of Ophthalmology, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Leibovitch
Igal
I
James
Craig
C
Huilgol
Shyamala C
SC
Selva
Dinesh
D
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001763:Blepharoptosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005141:Eyelid Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008911:Minocycline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012393:Rosacea / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011239:Prednisolone; D008911:Minocycline