Dry eye disease (DED) often precedes autoimmune disease diagnosis by approximately 3 years and varies in prevalence across different conditions.
2
Sjögren’s syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis were the most common autoimmune diseases in the study, with DED affecting 81% and 39% of patients, respectively.
3
DED prevalence ranged from 23% in Crohn’s disease to 81% in Sjögren’s syndrome, with females more commonly affected than males.
4
Keratitis and corneal ulcers were significant ocular complications, particularly in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome and vasculitis.
5
The study emphasizes the need for early recognition and management of DED to mitigate ocular morbidity in autoimmune disease populations.
