Keratoconjunctivitis sicca history and symptoms
|
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca Microchapters |
|
Differentiating Keratoconjunctivitis sicca from other Diseases |
|---|
|
Diagnosis |
|
Treatment |
|
Case Studies |
|
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca history and symptoms On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Keratoconjunctivitis sicca history and symptoms |
|
Risk calculators and risk factors for Keratoconjunctivitis sicca history and symptoms |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Please help WikiDoc by adding more content here. It's easy! Click here to learn about editing.
Overview
History
Common Symptoms
Typical symptoms of keratoconjunctivitis are dryness, burning[1] and a sandy-gritty eye irritation that gets worse as the day goes on. Symptoms may also be described as itchy,[1] scratchy,[2] stingy[1] or tired[1] eyes. Other symptoms are pain,[3] redness,[3] a pulling sensation,[1] and pressure behind the eye[1]. There may be a feeling that something,[1] such as a speck of dirt,[3] is in the eye. The resultant damage to the eye surface increases discomfort and sensitivity to bright light.[1] Both eyes usually are affected.[4]
There may also be a stringy discharge from the eyes.[3] Although it may seem strange, dry eye can cause the eyes to water.[3] This can happen because the eyes are irritated.[3] One may experience excessive tearing in the same way as one would if something got into the eye.[3] These reflex tears will not necessarily make the eyes feel better.[3] This is because they are the watery type that are produced in response to injury, irritation, or emotion.[3] They do not have the lubricating qualities necessary to prevent dry eye.[3]
Because blinking coats the eye with tears,[3] symptoms are worsened by activities in which the rate of blinking is reduced due to prolonged use of the eyes[1]. These activities include prolonged reading, computer usage,[3][1] driving,[1] or watching television[3][1]. Symptoms increase in windy,[3] dusty[3][1] or smoky (including cigarette smoke[3]) areas,[1] in dry environments[1], high altitudes including airplanes, on days with low humidity,[1] and in areas where an air conditioner[3] (especially in a car[1]), fan,[1] heater,[1] or even a hair dryer[3] is being used. Symptoms reduce during cool, rainy, or foggy weather and in humid places, such as in the shower.[1]
Most people who have dry eyes experience mild irritation with no long-term effects.[3] However, if the condition is left untreated or becomes severe, it can produce complications that can cause eye damage,[3] resulting in impaired vision or (rarely[1]) in the loss of vision[3].
Symptom assessment is a key component of dry eye diagnosis - to the extent that many believe dry eye syndrome to be a symptom-based disease. Several questionnaires have been developed to determine a score that would allow for dry eye diagnosis. McMonnies & Ho dry eye questionnaire is the one that is often used in clinical studies of dry eyes. There are 14 questions that can give a score from 0 to 45. Scores above 14.5 are consistent with dry eye diagnosis.
Less Common Symptoms
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 "Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca". The Merck Manual, Home Edition. Merck & Co., Inc. 2003-02-01. Retrieved 2006-11-12.
- ↑ "Dry eyes". MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. U.S. National Library of Medicine. 2006-10-04. Retrieved 2006-11-16.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18 3.19 3.20
Meadows, Michelle (2005). "Dealing with Dry Eye". FDA Consumer Magazine. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved 2006-11-16. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help); More than one of|author=and|last=specified (help); External link in|work=(help) - ↑ "Dry eyes". Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. 2006-06-14. Retrieved 2006-11-17.