Common Eye Disease

No matter how much care you take of your eyes, you will from time to time encounter some kind of eye problems. While some of these problems cause very little harm to the eyes, some may lead to permanent blindness. It is always advisable to consult the doctor.

Sjögren’s Syndrome

Sjögren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks tear gland. The most common patients are women in their ’40s and ’50s.It affects each patient differently so, it’s important to talk to your doctor for the right treatment.

What Causes Sjögren’s Syndrome?

The cause of Sjögren’s syndrome is not known. In some cases, it may be inherited, as it has been observed to run in families. Other cases have shown it to stem from preexisting, related diseases.

Symptoms of Sjögren’s Syndrome
  • Eye dryness
  • Eye irritation
  • Low tear production
  • Feeling of foreign objects in the eye

An eye care professional may diagnose Sjögren’s syndrome after observing dryness of the eyes and mouth, and running tests to detect the presence of the condition. One such test is Schirmer’s test, which measures the eye’s ability to wet a slip of paper. Other examinations determine the presence of Sjögren’s syndrome by testing the production of saliva and antibodies, as well as dryness on the surface of the eye.

Treatment for Sjögren’s Syndrome

As an autoimmune disease with no known cure, Sjögren’s syndrome treatments are generally aimed at helping to relieve symptoms of dryness and discomfort. For the eyes, these treatments include:

Artificial tears: topical eye drops that soothe and comfort dry eyes
Punctal plugs: a more advanced treatment for severe cases, punctal plugs block the function of the punctum, the opening of the tear duct which allows tear drainage.
Prescription medications to improve or increase tear production.

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Common Eye Problems