Eye & mouth conditions in women
Tear and salivary glands keep your eyes and mouth moist and protected. Lasting dryness can be an early clue to an autoimmune condition.
Conditions that affect your eyes & mouth 10
Autoimmune and chronic conditions that can involve your eyes & mouth. Each guide covers early signs, labs to ask about, and when to see a doctor.
Sjögren's disease
AutoimmuneThe immune system targets the glands that make tears and saliva, causing lasting dryness. It can also affect joints, nerves, and other organs.
Ankylosing spondylitis
AutoimmuneAn immune-mediated arthritis that mainly affects the spine and the joints where the spine meets the pelvis, causing back pain and stiffness that improve with movement.
Graves' disease
AutoimmuneThe most common cause of an overactive thyroid. Antibodies switch the thyroid 'on' so it makes too much hormone.
Multiple sclerosis
AutoimmuneThe immune system attacks myelin, the protective coating around nerves in the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves, disrupting nerve signals.
Rheumatoid arthritis
AutoimmuneThe immune system attacks the lining of the joints, causing painful swelling that can damage cartilage and bone if untreated.
Allergies
ChronicAn immune overreaction to harmless things in the environment, such as pollen, dust mites, mold, or pet dander.
Autoimmune liver disease
AutoimmuneTwo autoimmune liver diseases that mostly affect women: autoimmune hepatitis attacks liver cells, and primary biliary cholangitis attacks the small bile ducts.
Myasthenia gravis
AutoimmuneAntibodies block the signal between nerves and muscles, causing weakness that gets worse with use and improves with rest.
Psoriasis & psoriatic arthritis
AutoimmuneAn immune-mediated condition in which skin cells build up too quickly, forming thick, scaly patches. Up to about 1 in 3 people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis.
Crohn's disease & ulcerative colitis
AutoimmuneImmune-mediated conditions in which the immune system drives chronic inflammation of the digestive tract. They're often grouped with autoimmune diseases.
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Signs worth getting checked
- Dry, gritty eyes or a dry mouth that lasts for months
- Swollen glands near the jaw or in front of the ears
- Eye pain or sensitivity to light
- Bulging eyes or double vision
Ingredients that affect your eyes & mouth
Vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other supplements commonly used for the eyes & mouth. Each one links to its full guide.
About your eyes & mouth
What it does
Tear glands and salivary glands protect the eyes and mouth from infection, help you see clearly, and start digestion. Because the eyes have many small blood vessels and nerves, they often show inflammation happening elsewhere in the body.
Common issues
- Dry eye from screens, contact lenses, or menopause
- Dry mouth as a medication side effect
- Mouth ulcers
- Red, itchy eyes from allergies or infection
Wondering if your symptoms fit a pattern?
Dr. Lesher is a naturopathic doctor who specializes in women's autoimmune and chronic conditions. Since 2020, she has helped more than 900 patients overcome and heal from their conditions.