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Dry keratoconjunctivitis (filamentous keratitis)
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
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Filamentous keratitis (keratoconjunctivitis sicca) is a corneal disease of unknown etiology and is one of the symptoms of a general disease of the body called Sjögren's syndrome. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca is expressed in dryness of all mucous membranes, decreased or absent secretion of the lacrimal and salivary glands.
[ Symptoms of keratoconjunctivitis sicca
Dry keratoconjunctivitis is manifested by burning, dryness in the eye. In the conjunctival cavity - viscous secretion. The cornea is pricked with small erosions, more - in the lower sections. On the cornea - thin threads (7-8), which are attached at one end, and the other - hangs down. They consist of degeneratively altered cells of the corneal epithelium. There is a burning pain in the morning when opening the eyes due to the thread tearing off from the cornea
There are two forms of dry keratoconjunctivitis:
- typical dry keratoconjunctivitis (idiopathic);
- atypical dry keratoconjunctivitis (postoperative).
Filamentous idiopathic keratoconjunctivitis sicca is often bilateral. Characterized by the absence of tears when crying, dry mouth, nasopharynx, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing. There may be destruction of joints, impaired salivation, dry arthritis of the wrist joints, fingers.
Atypical filamentous dry keratoconjunctivitis develops if there was a prolapse of the vitreous body. It occurs as a manifestation of corneal dystrophy, and the endothelium is exfoliated.
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Treatment of dry keratoconjunctivitis
Treatment of dry keratoconjunctivitis is symptomatic - sterile vaseline oil, vitamin preparations (oil forms), artificial tears, lacrysine drops.
If there are many threads, they can be removed. The attachment site is shaded with a solution (alcohol) of brilliant green, a 2% solution of silver nitrate, a 5% solution of zinc sulfate.