[Dry eye--an increasing ailment].

The dry eye syndrome is probably the most common eye symptom. Its severity varies form mild to the incapacitating and difficult Sjögren's syndrome. Factors increasing the symptom are our northern environment, mechanical ventilation, ageing population, medicaments causing eye dryness, and various diseases. Refractive surgery of the eye may cause or exacerbate the dry eye syndrome. The majority of patients are women over 40 years. The disease is often accompanied by mild eosinophilic conjunctivitis without allergy, which must be taken into account in the treatment.