Can dry eye in dogs be cured? Here’s What to Do Next

What Is Dry Eye Syndrome in Dogs?

Dry eye syndrome in dogs, also known as Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (KCS), involves decreased or inadequate tear production. Tears are important to the lubrication, comfort, and overall health of a dog’s eyes. Tears also contain antibacterial proteins, mucus, white blood cells to fight infection, and other enzymes to help keep the eyes clear and free of debris, infection, and irritations.

A dog’s tears have three parts:

  • Lipid (fat) layer
  • Aqueous (water)
  • Mucin layer
  • Two glands, the lacrimal and third eyelid, are responsible for producing the watery layer of tears. In dogs with dry eye syndrome, these glands contribute little or nothing to the tears, even though the glands responsible for the lipid and mucin layers still function. This typically results in dry but gooey, mucous-filled eyes.

    Symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome in Dogs

    Dogs with dry eye syndrome can exhibit one or many of the following symptoms:

  • Red, inflamed, irritated, and painful eyes
  • Redness and swelling of the conjunctiva, or the tissues around the eye
  • Frequent squinting and blinking
  • Dryness on the surface of the cornea—the outer clear dome-shaped part of the eye
  • Mucous-like discharge on the cornea (may be yellow or green if a secondary bacterial infection is present)
  • Obvious defects and irregularities of the cornea, including increased vascularization (abnormal growth of blood vessels to the injured area) and pigmentation as the eye attempts to heal and protect itself
  • Possible vision impairment and blindness
  • How Veterinarians Diagnose Dry Eye Syndrome in Dogs

    Vets use the Schirmer Tear Test (STT) to diagnose dry eye syndrome and measure aqueous tear production in dogs. This is a simple, painless test involving a strip of special paper placed in the lower eyelid. The moisture and tears from the eye wick onto the paper for 60 seconds. At the end of that time, the vet measures the tear production on the paper. For test results, more than 15 millimeters of tear production per minute is normal, while less than 10 millimeters indicates dry eye syndrome. Your vet may repeat the test to confirm the diagnosis.

    After the STT, your vet may also perform a fluorescein stain test to look for corneal ulcers. The stain makes an ulcer glow bright green under a black light. The vet may also use a test of intraocular pressure to look for inflammation or glaucoma. These conditions are common with dry eye and important to diagnose and treat at the same time.

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