Systemic Evidence

Dry Eye Disease has long been known to have an association with systemic disease. This makes sense when you think that Dry Eye Disease is an inflammatory disease and is also influenced but diet.

A recent additional review of the research data from the DREAM Study has added further evidence to our understanding of the systemic associations with Dry Eye Disease.

They found greater dry eye signs in patients with Sjögren's syndrome, rosacea, rheumatoid arthritis, a history of smoking daily and peripheral artery disease. They did find no association between diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, osteoarthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, or hypertriglyceridemia and dry eye disease; which contradicts some earlier research.

My take on systemic associations is that it helps you understand a reason why your eyes might be bothering you and also reminds you that if you look after and manage your systemic health your eyes might bother you less.