Symptoms of thedry eye and oral sicca syndrome or xerostomia often walk together and those who suffer from it are usually the elderly. The latter, in fact, are exposed to a greater number of risk factors as, the presence of systemic disordersdiseases rheumatology o the use of certain drugs commonly administered to the elderly population (antihistamines, antidepressants, anxiolytics, anticholinergics and diuretics). Furthermore, several studies have shown a correlation between the symptoms of these two clinical conditions and endocrine disorders, such as the diabetes mellitus and the thyroid pathologies.
Xerostomia and Sjögren's syndrome
The association between dry eye and xerostomia is also always present in the elderly with syndrome of Sjögrena chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease that leads to the progressive destruction of the exocrine glands. Sjögren's syndrome results in the progressive degeneration of both the salivary glands, causing xerostomia, and the lacrimal glands, causing xerophthalmia and dry keratoconjunctivitis.
In general, the clinical picture of individuals presenting symptoms of dry eye syndrome negatively affects the quality of life for the significant impact on ocular comfort. Patients experience transient visual disturbances resulting in difficulties in performing daily activities such as driving vehicles, computer use and reading.
These disorders reach particularly severe levels in patients with Sjögren's syndrome. Xerostomia, on the other hand, can lead to speech and swallowing difficultiesand in the most serious cases, it can also lead to a series of complications such as the onset of dental cariesgreater susceptibility to oral infections, sleep disorders e poor appetite. The association between dry eye symptoms and xerostomia was recently demonstrated in a study of 627 subjects aged between 60 and 95 years. The results showed the presence of symptomatic xerostomia and symptomatic dry eye in 21% and 31% of the participants, respectively; whereas, symptoms of both clinical conditions were present in one-tenth of the subjects. Furthermore, a positive association was observed between the severity of xerostomia and dry eye syndrome symptoms.
Therefore, the positive association and debilitating effects of the two types of Sjögren's symptoms, according to the authors of the study, should lead to a more thorough investigation of the patient's clinical picture by various professionals, including general practitioners, dentists, ophthalmologists and rheumatologists. The evaluation of all these symptoms should also be carried out in order to speed up the diagnosis time of Sjögren's syndrome, which is currently around three years.
Source
Dr. Carmelo Chines
Direttore responsabile
English 
Italian