Dry Eye or KCS (Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca)

Dry eye is a painful eye disease that causes squinting, redness and discharge from the eye.

It requires careful and LIFELONG treatment because it may progress to pigmentary keratitis (blackening of the clear window of the cornea), infection or blindness.

Dry eye is a common problem. Certain breeds with large, protruding eyeballs (Shih Tzu, Pekenese, Boston Terrier, Pug, many others) are predisposed because of anatomy. Other dogs are predisposed because of previous eye problems ( Cherry Eye) or autoimmune disorders (Cocker Spaniels).

Eye medications containing cyclosporine are very helpful in controlling this disorder because they encourage the eye to make its own natural tears. Supplemental treatment with eye lubricants may still be needed if the eye is not properly moisturized. More rarely, surgical corrections may assist in the treatment of dry eye.

The Schirmer Tear Test is an in-office test that is used to diagnosis and evaluate the treatment of Dry Eye. Please follow the veterinarian’s instructions for treatment and reevaluations.

Any red, squinty or discharging eye should be rechecked, even if the disorder had been successfully controlled for months or years.

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