Autoimmune dry eye
Dry eye and autoimmune conditions
If you live with an autoimmune condition — Sjögren's, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, thyroid disease, psoriatic arthritis, MS — and your eyes feel gritty, burning, tired or blurred, the two are almost certainly connected.
Autoimmune-related dry eye is one of the most common and most under-recognised parts of autoimmune illness. It usually needs its own plan, not just "try a few drops."
Read the full guide
We've written a longer patient-friendly guide covering the conditions most often involved, why symptoms and clinical signs sometimes disagree, and what a real plan looks like. Read: The Link Between Autoimmune Conditions and Dry Eye Disease →
Conditions most often involved
- • Sjögren's syndrome — up to 9 in 10 people with Sjögren's have dry eye, often severe.
- • Rheumatoid arthritis — common, occasionally with more serious surface complications.
- • Systemic lupus (SLE), thyroid eye disease, psoriasis / psoriatic arthritis.
- • MS, IBD, coeliac disease — all show higher rates than the general population.
Why a proper assessment matters
In long-standing autoimmune disease, chronic inflammation can quietly reduce the nerve sensitivity of the cornea. That means the surface can be significantly damaged without feeling that bad — the opposite of what most people expect. A proper assessment measures both symptoms and clinical signs, so we don't miss the picture.
Working with your other doctors
The eye is one piece of a bigger picture. If your autoimmune condition is well controlled systemically — good rheumatology follow-up, thyroid levels stable, flares infrequent — your eyes respond faster and stay better for longer. We're happy to write to your GP, rheumatologist or endocrinologist so everyone is working from the same information.
Book a full dry eye assessment
The right plan starts with an accurate picture of what's actually happening on the surface of your eye. That's what an assessment gives you.
Book assessment →