4 Things Lupus Sufferers Need to Know About Dry Eye

4 December 2015

Jaime Allen

Lupus can affect your entire body, including your eyes. Lupus can lead to dry eye, a condition characterized by unpleasant dryness in the eyes. Here are four things lupus sufferers need to know about dry eye.

How does lupus lead to dry eye?

About one-fifth of lupus sufferers develop a related autoimmune disease, Sjogren's syndrome. Sjogren's syndrome affects the moisture-producing glands throughout your body, including your tear glands. This means that your tear glands can't produce as many tears as they should, which leaves your eyes dry and uncomfortable.

What are the signs of dry eye?

If you have dry eye, you'll feel an uncomfortable burning or stinging sensation in your eyes, and your eyes may be red. You may feel like you have a foreign body, like sand or an eyelash, stuck in your eye, and wearing contact lenses can be uncomfortable. Surprisingly, another sign of dry eyes is excessive tearing; this is your body's reaction to the uncomfortable dryness in your eyes. Finally, you may notice blurred vision as a result of the irritation and watering. If you notice these signs, see your optometrist.

What complications can dry eye cause?

Dry eye is uncomfortable, but it can also lead to serious eye problems. The first of these problems is conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye. If you develop this complication, your eyes will be red and your eyelids will be stuck together when you wake up. Conjunctivitis is usually mild, but in some cases, it can become a severe, chronic issue.

Dry eye can also lead to corneal damage. Your tears lubricate your cornea and protect it from friction and scratches, and without these tears, your cornea can become inflamed, infected, or ulcerated. These cornea problems can damage your vision. Fortunately, these problems can be avoided by taking dry eye seriously and seeking treatment.

What treatments are available?

Your optometrist can offer treatments to help ease your symptoms. Over-the-counter artificial tears can help keep your eyes moist, and if those aren't enough, prescription options are available. Your optometrist may also prescribe a lubricating ointment to apply to your eyes before you go to bed.

Anti-inflammatory treatments like corticosteroid eye drops can also be used in cases of moderate or severe dry eye. Steroids can lead to side effects like eye infections or cataracts, so they're usually only used for one to two weeks at a time to get symptoms under control.

If you have lupus and think you might have dry eye, see an optometrist, such as Montgomery Eye Center, right away. 

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