Medical expert of the article
New publications
Dry eye syndrome in children
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Normally, the tear film has a three-layer structure.
- An oily "lipid" layer that reduces evaporation, stabilizes the tear film, and ensures high optical quality of its surface. Lipids are produced by the meibomian glands.
- The aqueous layer comes directly from the lacrimal gland.
- A mucous layer produced in the glands of the conjunctiva.
Insufficiency of the mucous layer:
- trachoma;
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome.
Lipid layer deficiency:
- blepharitis;
- meibomitis;
- loss of meibomian glands, for example, due to previous illnesses or radiation.
Insufficiency of the aqueous layer ("dry" keratoconjunctivitis):
- congenital absence of tear fluid;
- pathology of the lacrimal reflex;
- local dryness - a blinking disorder or defective distribution of the tear film over the surface of the cornea;
- familial glucocorticoid deficiency syndrome with concomitant cardiac achalasia;
- ectodermal dysplasia;
- malformations of the craniofacial skeleton, such as Goldenar syndrome, craniosynostosis;
- multiple endocrine neoplasia type lib.
- familial dysautonomia (Riley-Day syndrome):
- predominantly affects children of Jewish origin;
- disintegration of the functions of the autonomic nervous system;
- sensory neuropathy;
- absence of fungiform papillae on the tongue;
- decreased lacrimation;
- decreased corneal sensitivity;
- optic neuropathy.
- Sjogren's syndrome. Dry eyes, mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract in combination with rheumatoid arthritis or an autoimmune process.
What do need to examine?
How to examine?
Treatment of dry eye syndrome
I. Treatment of the underlying disease:
- vitamin A deficiency;
- pathologies of the tear film;
- lacrimation disorders:
- avoiding exposure to dry atmosphere;
- wearing hydrophilic contact lenses;
- occlusions;
- humidification of indoor air.
II. Compensation for the deficiency of lacrimal fluid
- restoration of eyeball moisture using tarsorrhaphy;
- correction of evaporation by increasing the humidity of the surrounding air.
III. Use of artificial tears, as well as polyvinyl alcohol, methylcellulose and regular eye ointments.