Dry eye (also known as “keratoconjunctivitis sicca”) is a condition which is caused by a lack of tears. or poor tear function.
Tears are vital for the health of the eye as they not only lubricate, but nourish the cornea. Without tears the cornea dries out, becomes unhealthy and uncomfortable and can starts to ulcerate. The body then starts laying down a lot of scar tissue which is often seen as black pigmentation over the surface of the cornea, this eventually leads to blindness.
This condition can be very painful if not diagnosed and treated properly. A lot of people also suffer from dry eye and complain about red, irritated and sore eyes.
It is most commonly caused by an immune-mediated process that leads to damage to the tear producing glands. Breeds that are predisposed to the condition include the English Cocker spaniel, West Highland White terrier, Cavalier King Charles spaniel and Shih-Tzu. Other breeds include the Yorkshire terrier, Bulldog, Pekingese, Pug and Lhasa Apso
Pets effected with dry eye may have;
- red irritated eyes
- have a thick mucus discharge
- squint and rub their eyes
- have dull eyes
A thorough eye exam will determine the extent of the condition and assess the health of the cornea. A routine tear test (known as a Schirmer tear test) will measure the amount of tears present, and help confirmed that dry eye is present.
Once diagnosed the aim is to lubricate the cornea and try and stimulate further tear production. Generally a combination of eye medication will be need to be used every day.
If diagnosed early and treated appropriately dry eye can be managed quite well.
