Dry Mouth and Eyes

Occasionally, many of us have experienced dryness in mouth and eyes and it gets cured on its own. However, if a person is suffering from dry mouth and eyes persistently, then it must be a symptom of an underlying health disorder. The medical term used to describe this condition is Sjogren's syndrome. It mainly affects the salivary glands and tear glands present in the mouth and eyes respectively.

The cause behind Sjogren's syndrome is not exactly known. Basically, this is an autoimmune disorder which means that the immune system start attacking the healthy cells and tissues of the body by mistake. Thus, there is a decrease in the production of tears and saliva. It can develop in people of any age group but those who are above the age of 40 are at a higher risk of getting it. It is more commonly found in women than in men.

Symptoms

Many people tend to experience dry mouth and eyes at night. Some of the typical signs of this syndrome include burning, itching and gritty eyes, sudden blurred vision, dryness of mouth which make swallowing, chewing and speaking difficult. Some patients often show symptoms like redness of the eyes, light sensitivity and eye fatigue as well. In few cases, patients complain of burning sensation on the tongue, alteration in taste sensation, ulceration of the tongue, etc.

A pair of salivary glands that are present in between the jaw and ears is known as parotid glands. These glands become enlarged in this condition. Other observed symptoms are dry skin, vaginal dryness in women, skin rash, dry cough, pain, swelling and stiffness of the joints and fatigue. Dry mouth and eyes is often accompanied by other autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

Diagnosis and Treatment

For the diagnosis of the condition, physical examination of the patient is accompanied by studying the medical history of the patient. It is followed by blood tests where the antibody levels are measured and is found in higher levels than normal. An eye examination is also done to check the extent of dryness of the eyes. There is no cure for Sjorgen's syndrome. Therefore, the main aim of the treatment is to reduce the intensity of the dry eyes and mouth symptoms.

There are different types of oral medicines that are used. It includes medicines to bring about improvement in the saliva production, immunosuppressants for the suppression of abnormal functioning of the immune system, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to relieve joint pain and swelling, etc.

Artificial tear preparations are often applied to the eyes in order to treat the dry eye condition. Eye drops are prescribed for this purpose. Lubricating ointments can be used at night for treating dry eyes. These ointments are so greasy that they cannot be used during the day. In cases of extreme dry eyes, doctors opt for laser procedure to seal permanently the tear ducts that get drained out.

Dry mouth condition is quite difficult to treat because the artificial lubricants that are used for this purpose fails to give satisfactory results. Use of sugarless chewing gum and spraying of water inside the mouth are common dry mouth remedies. Special lubricating creams are used to reduce dryness of vagina. Proper moisturizers need to be used to get rid of dry skin.

When a person is suffering from dry mouth and eyes, then certain changes has to be brought about in the diet to control the dryness of the mouth. It should include more and more of soft moist foods and one should drink plenty of fluids. Sugary foods should be avoided as they promote dental caries. Proper oral care and regular visits to the dentist is a must for this condition.