Outlook

Most people with DES have nothing to worry about more than an annoying inconvenience. Although your symptoms might make activities of daily living (for example, reading, watching TV, driving) miserable for you, no long-term vision loss is to be expected.

For those with more severe DES, significant drying of the surface of the eye can lead to an increased risk of serious infections. Ultimately, scarring, thinning, and even perforation of the cornea may occur. As a result, vision, or even the eye itself, may be permanently lost.