Ocular rosacea study finds clues in tears

Human tears may hold the key to a future diagnostic test for ocular rosacea, according to a study published in Rosacea Review.

The study, funded by the National Rosacea Society, sampled tears from 16 patients with ocular rosacea and 21 without rosacea. Investigators analyzed the tears for the presence of oligosaccharides, an indicator of disease states.

Researchers found that high levels of oligosaccharides may be a diagnostic indication of ocular rosacea. High levels of 13 particular types of compound were associated with rosacea and may serve as more specific markers for the disorder.

Investigators suggested that types of oligosaccharides found in greatest abundance in rosacea patients should be evaluated in further research for their specificity as markers for ocular rosacea.