Fig. 1

Comparisons on the therapeutic regimens between SSDE and non-SSDE group. a showed the combination of treatment and medication. Eighteen (52.9%) SSDE patients had oral systemic western medications including hydroxychloroquine and/or corticosteroid. Twenty-five (73.5%) SSDE patients and 1 (3.3%) non-SSDE patient took combined treatment of western and traditional Chinese medicine. b illustrated the therapeutic regimen of western medicine. Artificial tear was used by dry eye patients in both two groups. However, 100% of SSDE patients had topical administration of cyclosporine A, while only 6.7% of non-SSDE subjects had the treatment of cyclosporine A. Moreover, 58.8% of SSDE patients had the treatment of calf serum extraction, whereas none of non-SSDE patients had this treatment. c presented the details of treatment by Chinese medicine. 50% of SSDE subjects took Chinese patent medicine. Meanwhile, 5.8% and 11.8% of SSDE subjects used acupuncture and Chinese herbal respectively