Relationship Between Severity of RA and Dry Eye Syndrome

Abstract

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease with extra- articular involvement. Eyes in particular are one of the most common sites of involvement in rheumatoid arthritis. On the other hand, dry eye syndrome is the most common conflict in terms of management. Particular studies suggested dry eye has been associated with greater rheumatoid arthritis severity, but its association with disease severity is not known. Objectives: To investigate relationship between the severity of active RA and dry eye. Patients and Methods: In this cross- sectional study, 60 patients with RA were enrolled. Severity of RA was calculated using the formula of DAS28-ESR. Simultaneously, in addition to clinical findings of rheumatoid arthritis, appropriated eye examinations were performed. Relationships between the severities of RA with a positive rate of dry eye syndrome were assessed. Results: The mean severity of RA that had definite dry eye syndrome according to DAS28-ESR was 4.53 mm. However in the group without dry eye syndrome the calculation was 3.93. Totally, there was no significant correlation between the severity of RA and dry eye syndrome (P = 0.39). Conclusions: Our investigation showed that dry eye syndrome is not associated with severity of rheumatoid arthritis.