Conditions
Sjögren’s Syndrome
There are more than half a million sufferers of Sjögren’s Syndrome in the UK, but it’s a condition that you probably won’t have heard of. Named after the Swedish eye doctor, Henrich Sjögren, who described a ‘syndrome’ consisting of features that included: dry eyes, dry mouth, vaginal dryness and aches and pains; it is a non-life threatening condition that typically develops in women in their 30’s to 60’s, although it can develop at any age and affects both men and women. It occurs when the body’s immune system reacts against itself and destroys the mucous secreting glands (such as those producing saliva and tears) as if they were foreign bodies. Treatment is about managing symptoms and preventing or limiting organ damage. Artificial tears are used to ensure that the dry eyes remain healthy, while saliva substitutes, coming in the form of gels and mouth sprays, are used to alleviate the discomfort of a dry mouth and throat.
Comments
Please note: Unfortunately Channel 4 cannot respond to individual inquiries. If you have any concerns, you can check out the Channel 4 Health site or NHS Choices, but ultimately it is always best to check with a health professional.
Important Notice
The information provided on this website (including any NHS Choices medical information) is for use as information or for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical care by a qualified doctor or other qualified healthcare professional. We do not warrant that any information included within this site will meet your health or medical requirements. This Embarrassing Bodies site does not provide any medical or diagnostic services so you should always check with a health professional if you have any concerns about your health.
If you want to embed our videos in your site, read our embedding T&Cs here


iya
my dad died in october and ever since when i wake up in the morning my eyes are stuck together with sleep and i get quite a lot of sleep through the day aswell my doctor has given me various drops and creams but they only stop it for a while but it eventually starts agian
any suggestions :) xxxx
Report this as offensive
ive always had red eye or blood shot eyes,ive tried optrex red eye but its still the same.
Report this as offensive
my left eye most mornings has a layer of dandruff or something very simular attached to it between the eyelid and the eye lashes it becomes quite itchy, any ideas what it might be??
Report this as offensive
My mom is always complaining of dryness in her eyes. what are the medicines to treat that condition? many thanks
Report this as offensive