When Your Immune System Affects Your Eyes

When we think about autoimmune disease, we often think about symptoms such as joint pain, fatigue, digestive issues, or inflammation. But autoimmune conditions can affect many parts of the body—including the eyes.

The eyes are particularly sensitive to inflammation and changes in the immune system. In some cases, eye symptoms may even appear before someone is diagnosed with an autoimmune condition.

The Connection Between Autoimmune Disease & Eye Health

Our immune system is designed to protect us. With an autoimmune condition, however, the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues. Depending on the condition, this inflammation can affect different parts of the eyes.

Conditions such as Sjögren's syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, thyroid-related autoimmune disease, and other inflammatory disorders can be associated with:

• Chronic dry, burning, or gritty eyes

• Redness and inflammation

• Excessive watering

• Light sensitivity

• Fluctuating vision

• Eyelid inflammation

• Contact lens intolerance

• Inflammation inside the eye

Not everyone with an autoimmune condition will develop eye problems, and experiencing dry eye does not mean you have an autoimmune disease. However, persistent or unusually difficult-to-treat symptoms may be a reason to look more closely at the bigger picture.

When Dry Eye Is More Than "Just Dry Eye"

One of the most common ways autoimmune conditions affect the eyes is through dry eye disease. For example, Sjögren's syndrome can affect the body's ability to produce tears, resulting in significant dryness.

But dry eye isn't always simply a problem with making enough tears. Tear quality, inflammation, eyelid health, hormones, medications, nutrition, and overall health can all influence how comfortable and healthy our eyes feel.

This is why simply adding artificial tears may not always address the underlying problem.

Looking at the Bigger Picture

Because the eyes are highly sensitive tissues, chronic inflammation can have a significant impact on ocular health. When we see persistent inflammation or symptoms that aren't responding to typical treatments, we want to understand why.

That may mean considering a patient's autoimmune history, hormone health, nutrition, gut health, medications, lifestyle, and other factors that influence inflammation throughout the body.

Your eyes don't exist independently from the rest of you. Sometimes, they can provide important clues about what is happening elsewhere in the body.


If you're experiencing chronic dry eye, unexplained inflammation, recurring symptoms, or eye problems that don't seem to improve, don't assume you simply have to live with them. Looking beyond the symptoms and searching for contributing factors can be an important step toward healthier eyes—and a healthier you.

To seeing (and feeling) your best,

Dr. Ame Cline
The Eye Care Studio
www.TheEyeCareStudio.com
(740)761-2020