Keratoconjunjunctivitis: Symptom and Causes

Symptoms

The main symptom of keratoconjunctivitis sicca is discomfort in the eye. This soreness can range from mild to severe. Some other symptoms of keratoconjunctivitis sicca include:

• The sensation of a burning, itching, or foreign body in the eye
• Sensitivity to light
• Redness or irritation of conjunctiva
• Discomfort with contact lenses
• Stringy mucus in or around your eyes
• Periods of excessive tearing
• Blurred vision, often worsening at the end of the day or after focusing for a prolonged period
• Eye fatigue and eye redness

Causes

The development of dry eyes can have many causes. They include:

• Age
• Gender- women are more likely to develop dry eyes due to hormonal changes
• Medications like antihistamines, decongestants, blood pressure medications and antidepressants
• Medical conditions -rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and thyroid problems
• Environmental conditions- exposure to smoke, wind and dry climates
• Other factors- long term use of contact lenses, refractive eye surgeries, such as LASIK