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 04/06/06  Eye Care  DISCHARGE 03/31/06  Eye Care  DRY EYE 03/31/06  Allergy  ITCHING WON'T STOP 03/27/06  Ear Care  YEAST INFECTIONS 03/25/06  Eye Care  INFLAMMED EYES 03/23/06  Eye Care  CYCLOSPORINE 03/03/06  Allergy  EYE WEEPING 03/02/06  Allergy  "REVERSE SNEEZING" 02/28/06  Eye Care  DRY EYE 02/26/06  Eye Care  EYE IS CLOSED, LITTLE BIT OF DISCHARGE 02/22/06  Eye Care  BOXER PUPPY 02/22/06  Eye Care  USING HUMAN EYE DROPS ON DOGS. 02/18/06  Eye Care  PANNUS OR DRY EYE 02/11/06  Other  CAT COUGH 02/02/06  Eye Care  SINUS INFECTION 1 2 3 4 »»

 

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