eMedicine Specialties > Ophthalmology > Lacrimal System

Dry Eye Syndrome: Follow-up

Author: C Stephen Foster, MD, FACS, FACR, FAAO, Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School; Consulting Staff, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary; Founder and President, Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Foundation, Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution
Coauthor(s): Erdem Yuksel, MD, Fellow, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institute, Medical School of Gazi University; Fahd Anzaar, MD, Fellow, Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institute; Clinical Research and Education Coordinator, Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Foundation; Anthony S Ekong, MD, Consulting Staff, Department of Ophthalmology, Marshfield Clinic
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: May 13, 2009

Follow-up

Further Outpatient Care

  • Follow-up care is based on the severity of symptoms.

Inpatient & Outpatient Medications

  • Artificial tears with and without preservatives depending on severity
  • Doxycycline 100 mg qd/bid if indicated for meibomian gland dysfunction

Complications

  • Decreased visual acuity
  • Blindness

Prognosis

  • In general, the prognosis for visual acuity in patients with dry eye syndrome is good.

Patient Education

Miscellaneous

Medicolegal Pitfalls

  • Early detection and aggressive therapy will reduce the incidence of corneal ulcer.
 


More on Dry Eye Syndrome

Overview: Dry Eye Syndrome
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Dry Eye Syndrome
Treatment & Medication: Dry Eye Syndrome
Follow-up: Dry Eye Syndrome
References
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References

  1. Dry Eye Workshop (DEWS) Committee. 2007 Report of the Dry Eye Workshop (DEWS). Ocul Surf. April 2007;5(2):65-204. [Full Text].

  2. Behrens A, Doyle JJ, Stern L, et al. Dysfunctional tear syndrome: a Delphi approach to treatment recommendations. Cornea. Sep 2006;25(8):900-7. [Medline].

  3. Abelson MB. Dry eye, today and tomorrow. Review in Ophthalmology. 2000;11:132-34.

  4. American Academy of Ophthalmology. External disease and cornea. In: Section Seven: Basic & Clinical Science Course. American Academy of Ophthalmology; 2007-2008.

  5. Barabino S, Rolando M, Camicione P, et al. Systemic linoleic and gamma-linolenic acid therapy in dry eye syndrome with an inflammatory component. Cornea. Mar 2003;22(2):97-101. [Medline].

  6. Bron AJ, Tiffany JM, Gouveia SM, et al. Functional aspects of the tear film lipid layer. Exp Eye Res. Mar 2004;78(3):347-60. [Medline].

  7. Geerling G, Maclennan S, Hartwig D. Autologous serum eye drops for ocular surface disorders. Br J Ophthalmol. Nov 2004;88(11):1467-74. [Medline].

  8. Gilbard JP. Dry eye disorders. In: Albert DM, Jakobiec FA, eds. Principles and Practice of Ophthalmology. Vol 2. WB Saunders Co; 2000:982-1000.

  9. Karadayi K, Ciftci F, Akin T, et al. Increase in central corneal thickness in dry and normal eyes with application of artificial tears: a new diagnostic and follow-up criterion for dry eye. Ophthalmic Physiol Opt. Nov 2005;25(6):485-91. [Medline].

  10. McCulley JP, Shine WE. The lipid layer of tears: dependent on meibomian gland function. Exp Eye Res. Mar 2004;78(3):361-5. [Medline].

  11. Murube J, Nemeth J, Hoh H, et al. The triple classification of dry eye for practical clinical use. Eur J Ophthalmol. Nov-Dec 2005;15(6):660-7. [Medline].

  12. Ohashi Y, Dogru M, Tsubota K. Laboratory findings in tear fluid analysis. Clin Chim Acta. Jul 15 2006;369(1):17-28. [Medline].

  13. Perry HD, Donnenfeld ED. Dry eye diagnosis and management in 2004. Curr Opin Ophthalmol. Aug 2004;15(4):299-304. [Medline].

  14. Pflugfelder SC. Advances in the diagnosis and management of keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Curr Opin Ophthalmol. Aug 1998;9(4):50-3. [Medline].

  15. Stern ME, Gao J, Siemasko KF, et al. The role of the lacrimal functional unit in the pathophysiology of dry eye. Exp Eye Res. Mar 2004;78(3):409-16. [Medline].

  16. Tatlipinar S, Akpek EK. Topical ciclosporin in the treatment of ocular surface disorders. Br J Ophthalmol. Oct 2005;89(10):1363-7. [Medline].

  17. Yoon KC, Heo H, Im SK, et al. Comparison of autologous serum and umbilical cord serum eye drops for dry eye syndrome. Am J Ophthalmol. Jul 2007;144(1):86-92. [Medline].

  18. Zoukhri D. Effect of inflammation on lacrimal gland function. Exp Eye Res. May 2006;82(5):885-98. [Medline].

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Further Reading

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Keywords

dry eye syndrome, dry eye, dry eye disease, DES, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, KCS, Sjögren syndrome, SS, Sjögren syndrome associated keratoconjunctivitis sicca, non-Sjögren syndrome associated keratoconjunctivitis sicca, Sjögren syndrome associated KCS, non-Sjögren syndrome associated KCS, tear film disorder, decreased tear production, aqueous tear deficiency, ATD, deficient aqueous production, evaporative loss

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

C Stephen Foster, MD, FACS, FACR, FAAO, Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School; Consulting Staff, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary; Founder and President, Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Foundation, Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institution
C Stephen Foster, MD, FACS, FACR, FAAO is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Association of Immunologists, American College of Rheumatology, American College of Surgeons, American Federation for Clinical Research, American Medical Association, American Society for Microbiology, American Uveitis Society, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Medical Society, Royal Society of Medicine, and Sigma Xi
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Erdem Yuksel, MD, Fellow, Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institute, Medical School of Gazi University
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Fahd Anzaar, MD, Fellow, Massachusetts Eye Research and Surgery Institute; Clinical Research and Education Coordinator, Ocular Immunology and Uveitis Foundation
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Anthony S Ekong, MD, Consulting Staff, Department of Ophthalmology, Marshfield Clinic
Anthony S Ekong, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology and American Medical Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Jack L Wilson, PhD, Distinguished Professor, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee at Memphis
Jack L Wilson, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association of Anatomists, American Association of Clinical Anatomists, and American Heart Association
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Managing Editor

Christopher J Rapuano, MD, Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University; Co-Chairman of the Cornea Service, Co-Chairman of Refractive Surgery Department, Wills Eye Institute
Christopher J Rapuano, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, Contact Lens Association of Ophthalmologists, Cornea Society, Eye Bank Association of America, International Society of Refractive Surgery, and Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology
Disclosure: Allergan Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Allergan Consulting fee Consulting; Alcon Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Inspire Honoraria Speaking and teaching; RPS Ownership interest Other; Vistakon Honoraria Speaking and teaching

CME Editor

Lance L Brown, OD, MD, Ophthalmologist, Affiliated With Freeman Hospital and St John's Hospital, Regional Eye Center, Joplin, Missouri
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Hampton Roy Sr, MD, Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Hampton Roy Sr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Ophthalmology, American College of Surgeons, and Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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