About the disease
Ophthalmitis is inflammation of the eye. It usually is a secondary condition which indicated presence of other diseases. Most commonly, ophthalmitis is caused by some infection or other inflammatory process of the eye. It is usually manifested by eye redness, swelling, also itching and dryness.
Ophthalmitis can also be caused by sjogren's syndrome. This syndrome is disorder of the immune system. As a result of this disorder, eyes and mouth of the person are constantly dry. In many cases sjogren's syndrome does not appear without other accompanying autoimmune diseases, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. Autoimmune disease is the condition whereby immune system starts to attack its own organism for some unknown reason.
According to Mayo Clinic, sjogren's syndrome is most common in people over the age of 40 years. Nonetheless, it can develop at any age. Sjogren's syndrome is also more common among female population.
People with sjogren's syndrome can also have swollen salivary glands. These glands are located between the jaw and the ears. The exact cause of sjogren's syndrome has not been identified yet. Some doctors think that gene mutation can make the person more susceptible to developing sjogren's syndrome. Nonetheless, there usually must be a trigger, such as an infection, to make sjogren's syndrome start manifest itself.
Symptoms
- Dry eyes
- Dry mouth
- Pain in the muscles
- Itching in the eyes
- Gritty sensation in the eyes
- Difficulty swallowing food and liquids
- Dry skin
- Cough
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Pain in the joints
Diagnosis
- During a general examination the doctor will examine the eyes and the mouth to determine the extent of dryness. The doctor will ask if the person has any autoimmune diseases and will examine the medical history of the patient.
- A blood tests is usually needed to see if the person has antibodies common in people with sjogren's syndrome. This test can also rule out other conditions which can be causing similar symptoms. Levels of blood cells can be abnormal in this case as well.
- The doctor will examine the eyes to check if the person can produce tears. A special filter paper is placed under the lower eyelid to check the tear production process.
- An X-ray can be used to check if the salivary glands are swollen or inflamed which is usually the case with sjogren's syndrome.
- A biopsy can be used to check the salivary glands for special cells common in sjogren's syndrome.
Treatment
- Conservative treatment usually uses special drugs that reduce inflammation and also drops that help reduce the dryness in the eyes. Special drugs can also increase production of saliva in the mouth and thus reduce dryness.
- In some cases surgery to block the tear ducts is used to reduce dryness in the eyes. Special collagen plugs can be inserted into the ducts to preserve the tears.
Authors: Dr. Vadim Zhiliuk, Dr. Sergey Pashchenko
