Dry eye syndrome

Due to a chronic autoimmune disease, some people have chronic salivary gland and lacrimal glands, causing dry conjunctivitis and dry mouth.

The syndrome, called Sjogren, is 9 times more common in women than men . The disease often occurs especially in menopause. About 50% of cases of unknown causes are primary dry eye syndrome. Possible causes include other autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, total scleroderma (dry eye secondary mouth).

(Photo: TTO)

Symptoms are dry eyes, can lead to dry conjunctivitis, dry mouth causing inflammation of the oral mucosa, tooth decay. Touching the parotid gland enlarges in 50% of cases. There may be other manifestations such as dryness of the nasal mucosa, chronic bronchitis, pulmonary fibrosis, skin atrophy, anorexia gastritis, capillary inflammation.

Eye damage

1/3 of patients with dry conjunctivitis do not complain about their eyes. Among the dysfunction, the feeling of having a foreign body in the eye is the most annoying. Symptoms are less common but it is strongly suggested that there are no tears when stimulated such as peeling or touching. Thick secretions make the eyelid stick in the morning. The sensation of covering the eyes, disappearing when blinking due to the mucous deposits before the cornea. Fear of light can be frustrating. Other symptoms: eye pain, feeling of being injected into the eye, more difficult to blink. Patients easily reduce vision due to corneal damage.

Possible complications include corneal ulcers, eyelid iris, corneal perforation, scarring .

Salivary gland lesions

At first, patients found dry mouth, lips, feeling difficult to chew and swallow, so they had to drink plenty of water while talking and eating.

At a later stage, dry mouth syndrome becomes apparent and ends with difficulty chewing and swallowing, causing the patient to moisturize his or her mouth regularly by sucking on sour candy, constantly sipping and drinking water all day and night. Dry mouth becomes very uncomfortable with a burning sensation, increased when using sour and spicy foods, appears cracks that cause pain on the edge and tongue. Taste is disturbed. In the long term, it facilitates mouth infections, especially from fungi.

Bad tooth condition: tooth decay, premature tooth erosion, loss of jaw fragments lose teeth gradually. The dentures make patients uncomfortable. In late, dry, translucent, dull, mucous membranes of the mouth lose thorns, deep grooves and bad teeth.

Treatment

With dry eyes, physiological saline is needed or artificial tears are used. It improves functionality in 45% of cases. It is possible to use gastrointestinal factors: eye drops containing hyaluronidase, bromhexine (Bisolvon). Eye drops containing corticosteroids are strictly prohibited because of the risk of infection, headaches, corneal perforation. Regular use of eye drops containing antibiotics is not sufficient to prevent infection.

To treat dry mouth, patients should suck on sour candy or chew gum. Some patients need to keep their mouth moist by regularly drinking water or using glycerin. Electric tools can be used to stimulate saliva production. There are also saliva substitutes used through the artisial, or released from the mouth-mounted container.

To reduce tooth decay, it is necessary to keep good oral hygiene: Use fluoride toothpaste, brush teeth twice a day, shaving teeth, quit smoking, and treat dental infections (fungi). Atropine, sympathetic paralysis, and psychotropic drugs should be avoided. If the parotid gland is too big, surgery can be done. Contraindicated local radiation because it facilitates the appearance of malignant lymphocytic syndrome.