Introduction: Sjögren’s disease is an autoimmune disease with dry eyes and mouth and chronic pain, more frequent in middle-aged women. The aim of this study is to understand the impact of Sjögren’s disease on quality of life and occupational health. Method: Quantitative and qualitative comparative study, with 20 Sjögren’s disease and 25 healthy controls. Questionnaires and interviews were applied to assess occupational performance, quality of life, mood disorders, and sleep. Results: The combined major diagnostic parameters for Sjögren’s disease (focus score and anti-SSA/Ro positivity) were present in 85% of the Sjögren’s disease group. There was a correlation between the sicca symptom measured by the European League Against Rheumatism Sjögren’s Syndrome Patient Reported Index (ESSPRI), anxiety, and depression measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS; r = 0.56; p = 0.009), as well as fatigue measured by the Profile of fatigue and discomfort questionnaire (PROFAD) ( r = 0.78; p < 0.0001). Sjögren’s disease patients reported a loss of physical abilities, sleep disturbance, change in mood, social and occupational participation, and lower quality of life. Conclusions: Sjögren’s disease patients have poorer quality of life, loss of competencies, and sleep disturbances compared to controls. Novel strategies are necessary to improve occupational health in SjD.

Dry eye disease (DED) is a hallmark of primary Sjögren’s disease (SjD) and often resists conventional treatments like lubricant eye drops. Insulin nanoemulsions offer a potential solution by improving drug penetration and retention on the ocular surface. In animal models, insulin has shown benefits in promoting tear secretion and corneal healing. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of insulin nanoemulsion eye drops (20 IU/mL, three times daily for 30 days) in patients with SjD. Thirty-two patients were randomized in a double-masked design to receive either insulin or placebo drops. Symptoms (assessed by OSDI questionnaire) and objective measures (tear film breakup time, corneal and conjunctival staining, and Schirmer Test) were recorded at baseline, after 4 weeks of treatment, and at a 4-week follow-up. Twenty-three participants completed the study. Both groups showed significant improvement in symptoms and objective signs after treatment (p < 0.05), but no significant differences were found between the insulin and placebo groups. No clinically relevant adverse effects were reported. Insulin nanoemulsion eye drops are safe for SjD patients, but their therapeutic advantage remains unclear. Further studies with larger samples, extended follow-up, and dose adjustments are needed to better understand their potential.

Ocular surface (OS) and dry eye (DE) symptoms are frequent ophthalmic complaints influenced by climate and pollution related with acute and chronic ocular surface symptoms. This study assessed their association with environmental conditions in São Paulo metropolitan area (2016–2020), including air temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, ozone (O₃), particulate matter (PM), using IQVIA eye drop sales data and Google search trends. Sympathomimetic decongestant sales correlated with higher temperature (r = 0.434, p = 0.0021), UV radiation (r = 0.643, p < 0.0001), and ozone (r = 0.491, p = 0.0004). Artificial tears and lubricants correlated with ozone (r = 0.452, p = 0.0012) and with searches for “red eye” (r = 0.505, p = 0.0005) and “stye” (r = 0.599, p < 0.0001). To address multicollinearity, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied, with the first two components (PC1 and PC2) explaining 87.3% of variance. Regression models using these components were significant for decongestant sales and “stye” searches. Eye drop sales and search trends thus emerge as potential indicators of OS and DE symptoms, reflecting environmental conditions and informing prevention strategies.