clinical features
Last reviewed 01/2018
Patients with dry eyes will complain of dry and gritty feeling and foreign body sensation in the eyes. In addition patients may report:
- burning or itching in the eyes
- excess tearing
- pain or soreness
- redness of the eyes
- photophobia in some cases
- stringy discharge
- blurred, changing vision.
In severe cases, irreparable damage to the corneal surface may occur due to the inflammation associated with dry eye syndrome (2).
Symptoms are aggravated by warmth, towards the end of the day, low humidity, smoky environments and with prolonged use of eyes (reading, driving, watching television or computer use) (1,3).
Presence of other symptoms such as dysphagia, dry mouth and vaginal dryness, is suggestive of Sjogren's syndrome
Reference:
- (1) Phadatare SP et al. A Comprehensive Review on Dry Eye Disease: Diagnosis, Medical Management, Recent Developments, and Future Challenges. Advances in Pharmaceutics 2015, Article ID 704946
- (2) Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin. The management of dry eye. BMJ. 2016;353:i2333.
- (3) Perry HD. Dry eye disease: pathophysiology, classification, and diagnosis. Am J Manag Care. 2008;14(3 Suppl):S79-87