Sjögren’s syndrome is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the glands that make tears and saliva. Severe dry eye is one of its hallmark symptoms. A network meta-analysis published in Frontiers in Immunology compared topical treatments for the eye in Sjögren’s and found that some drops, such as autologous serum and cyclosporine, may help different symptoms.
What a network meta-analysis does
Most studies compare one treatment to a placebo. A network meta-analysis pools many studies and uses statistics to compare several treatments with each other, even if they were never tested head to head. It gives a broader picture of how options stack up.
The options studied
- Cyclosporine drops, which calm inflammation and can help the eye make more natural tears over time
- Autologous serum drops, made from a patient’s own blood, which contain growth factors and nutrients similar to natural tears
- Other anti-inflammatory and lubricating drops
The takeaway is that there is no single best drop for everyone. Different treatments may do better for symptoms, surface staining, or tear production, so care should be personalized.
Why this matters for keratoconus patients
People with keratoconus often wear specialty contact lenses such as scleral or rigid lenses. Dry eye from any cause, including autoimmune disease, can make those lenses uncomfortable and affect corneal health. Controlling the eye surface is part of good keratoconus care and helps patients get the most out of their lenses.
Signs you should be evaluated
- Constant gritty or burning eyes
- Dry mouth along with dry eyes
- Difficulty tolerating contact lenses
- Light sensitivity
Help from Khanna Vision Institute
Dr. Khanna’s team evaluates dry eye and keratoconus together, so treatment fits your whole eye. Patients come to us from Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, Westlake Village, and Thousand Oaks.
More eye-health articles at Better Vision At Any Age.
Source: Comparative efficacy and safety of topical therapies for ocular involvement in Sjögren's syndrome: a systematic review and network meta-analysis (Front Immunol (PubMed), 09/10/2026). This article is an educational summary written by Khanna Vision Institute and is not a substitute for medical advice.
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