Dry Eye

What is Dry Eye?

Dry eye medical terms: KCS (Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca), exposure keratitis

Dry eye is called KCS or Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca. It occurs when your pet doesn’t make enough tears to keep the eye lubricated.

Tears have 3 parts:

• a superficial oily layer
• a watery or aqueous layer
• an inner mucin or mucoid layer

With dry eye, the liquid portion of the tear isn’t made. Because the mucoid portion of tears is still made, a thick discharge collects in the eyes. This discharge may look like your pet has an infection, but dry eye doesn’t start out as an infectious process. Infections can come later because tears aren’t flushing dirt and bacteria from the eye.

What do tears do?

The watery tear layer, which makes up most of the tears, carries oxygen and nutrients to the cornea, flushes dust, and protects the eye from bacteria. Because the cornea has no blood vessels, it relies entirely on tears for nourishment and waste removal. The superficial oily layer allows the tear to slide smoothly over the eye, and prevents tears from evaporating. The inner mucoid layer allows tears to flow smoothly, and traps material so that it clumps together and is easier to clear from the eye.

What causes Dry Eye or KCS?

About 80% of dogs have dry eye caused by an immune problem. Their immune T cells attack the tear-producing cells and prevent them from producing tears.

Other causes of KCS include

• toxicity caused by sulfa drugs
• viruses, such as distemper
• general anesthetics
• chronic eye infection (herpes virus or chlamydia infection)
• trauma that injures the third eyelid or the tear glands

Who Gets Dry Eye?

Dogs get dry eye, but cats rarely do. The dog breeds predisposed to dry eye are Cocker Spaniels, Bulldogs, West Highland White Terriers, Lhaso Apsos and Shih Tzus.

The articles here were answered by a variety of pharmacists and veterinarians   Date Category Topic 03/03/12  Eye Care  Eye 02/19/12  Eye Care  Watery Eyes 02/05/12  Eye Care  Eye Boogers 11/22/11  Eye Care  Blind Pug Eye Care 11/17/11  Eye Care  Sodium Wash For Eyes 10/09/11  Eye Care  Clear+mass+of+mucus+on+left+eye 09/04/11  Eye Care  Dry Eye 08/26/11  Eye Care  Recommended Eye Drops 08/09/11  Other  High Triglyceride Levels And Hypothyroidism 06/22/11  Eye Care  Dry Eyes 06/22/11  Eye Care  Dry Eyes 04/11/11  Eye Care  Dry+eye+care 09/14/10  Eye Care  Optimmune Discontinued? 07/08/10  Antibiotics/Anti-Infectives  How Bad Is Kennel Cough 05/01/10  Eye Care  Dry Eyes 1 2 3 4 5 »»

 

Enter question or keyword(s):              or search by pet type:  All Pet Types Dogs Cats Horses Other             TIPS: Search for answers by entering keywords, Use multiple keywords