Dry Eye

What is Dry Eye?

Dry Eye is a common eye disease that occurs when the tear glands are not able to produce the normal amount of tears.

​Tears help protect the eye against infection and provide lubrication to keep the eye clean and comfortable. Dry eye makes your pets eyes feel irritated and they are more prone to infections and painful ulcers. Without treatment this painful condition can lead to scarring and pigmentation of the eye, and may eventually cause blindness.

What causes Dry Eye?

The most common cause of Dry Eye is destruction of the tear glands by the dog’s own immune system.

​Dry Eye affects approximately 1 in every 22 dogs, although some breeds are more susceptible. These breeds are:

• English Cocker Spaniel
• West Highland Terrier
• Cavalier King Charles
• Shih Tzu

​In these breeds it is recommended to have routine testing for dry eye, as early diagnosis is likely to lead to a more successful outcome. Testing is quick and painless and can be carried out during a routine consultation.

Does my dog have Dry Eye?

If you’re concerned that your pet may have Dry Eye, you should contact us. We can perform a very simple and quick test that gives a measure of the amount of tears your dog produces in one minute.

​Treatment will be successful if Dry Eye is caught early; so if you have any concerns, or your pet is a breed that has a higher risk of developing Dry Eye, speak to us about Dry Eye testing.