Dry Eyes and Mouth

Okay. If you do have one or more of these, it's possible you have Sjogren's syndrome, a rheumatic disease that is related to rheumatoid arthritis. In addition to the dryness symptoms, joint pain, rash, and lung inflammation may occur.

Now, on to some questions about some other possible causes of dryness of the eyes and mouth.

Have you ever been told you have blepharitis, an inflammation of the eyelids? Common symptoms include awakening with mucous in the corners of the eye, a greasy appearance to the lids, a crusty, scaly material on the lashes near the lids, a grainy feeling when blinking, and redness and swelling of the lids. Yes, I think I may have blepharitis. No, I don't think I have blepharitis.

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Date Last Reviewed: 6/1/2006 Date Last Modified: 5/25/2006 Source: from Harvard Health Decision Guides, Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2007 by President and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Used with permission of StayWell.

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