Could Your Dry Eye Be Caused By A More Serious Disease?
For some people, their dry eye symptoms might be a sign of a more serious condition. For as many as 1 in 10 people with dry eyes, their symptoms could be a sign of Sjögrens syndrome-a chronic, a progressive autoimmune disease. Common early symptoms of Sjögrens include dry eyes and dry mouth. Unfortunately, these early symptoms are overlooked, making it difficult to diagnose Sjögrens.
Sjögrens’s Syndrome Overview
- Pronounced SHOW-grins
- An autoimmune disease in which a person’s white blood cells attack their moisture-producing glands
- Affects about 4 million people in the United States, 3 million of whom have not been diagnosed
- Causes other symptoms such as fatigue, GI distress, muscle weakness, and muscle/joint pain
- May affect many different areas of the body
Diagnosis And Treatment
Sjögrens syndrome can be difficult to identify because there is no single test which will confirm the diagnosis. Although nine out of ten Sjögrens patients are woman, signs and symptoms can vary significantly from person to person. The average age of diagnosis is late 40s, although it can occur in all age groups and in both men and women.
If you have a dry eye condition, Dr. Zdenek would suggest for you to take the Sjö diagnotic test. Sjö is a screening blood test which will detect Sjögrens syndrome in its early stages with more accurate results. Dr. Zdenek’s research has lead him to incorporate the Sjö test in his practice to help with early detection of Sjögrens. Currently, the national average for accurate diagnosis is 4.7 years. Dr. Zdenek wants to help his patients detect and manage Sjögrens symptoms sooner and better. Early detection can help you effectively manage your symptoms.
