Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), also called keratitis sicca, sicca syndrome, xerophthalmia, dry eye syndrome (DES), or simply dry eyes, is an eye disease caused by decreased tear production or increased tear film evaporation commonly found in humans and some animals^[1]. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca is Latin and its literal translation is “dryness of the cornea and conjunctiva“. It may be helpful to know that “sicca” is part of the English word “desiccate.”

When found in association with Xerostomia and polyarthritis, it is called Sjogren’s syndrome.