Patients complain of irritation, a gritty feeling or painful burning in the eyes. Eyelids may stick together and patients may complain of mouth dryness.
Food is difficult to chew and swallow.
About half of Sj gren's syndrome patients also have rheumatoid arthritis or other connective tissue disease. The several factors involved include genetic, immunologic, hormonal, and probably infectious. People with this disease have abnormal proteins in their blood that suggest that their immune system is reacting against their own tissue. The decreased production of tears and saliva is caused when the glands that produce these fluids are damaged. These glands are attacked by immune cells called lymphocytes.