Management of the dry eye in Sjogren's syndrome

Abstract

98 patients suffering from Sjøgren's syndrome were supervised for not less than 5 years, their ocular progress being carefully documented. Both symptoms and signs improved in nearly 50 per cent. of the group receiving tear substitute therapy only for the period of 5 years. Thirty of the 98 patients were selected for nasolacrimal canalicular obliteration, and 70 per cent. of these continued to improve both objectively and subjectively over the follow-up period of 3 years. Twenty of the 98 patients who had not responded to tear sub-stitute therapy or nasolacrimal canalicular obliteration were treated for I year with 5 per cent. acetyl-cysteine in solution pH 8 4. 30 per cent. ofthis group improved in both symptoms and signs. Recurrent infection, particularly with Staphylococcus aureus on the lids, is a problem requiring constant vigilance and may be related to the development of corneal complications.