Dry Eye

[donski]

I did a search for dry eye, but to no avail, which I thought was strange as I understand it's quite common?

Anyway, my 3yo mini bull terrier has now been diagnosed with dry eye after a long bout of conjunctivitis in his unpigmented eye.

I am keen to hear of others' experiences? Is the condition always life long? What medication has worked? Has anyone chosen to go down the surgery route?

Mitch has been on coritcosteriods, but they didn't work, so we've just started on Conoptal antibiotic cream, Tacromlimus drops and off-the-counter dry eye drops.

[juice]

Hi Donski, my Bull Terrier has it too.

I use Panalog twice a day, and also use Eye's Natural once a day too.

I get the Panalog from overseas as its about 1/3 of the price.

I have heard Optimune is good too, but more expensive.

[Dogsfevr]

liquid tears gel ,no drops they run out & leave very little in the eye.The gel stays for longer & use more so over night

[Xyz]

One of mine has it, nothing works like optimmune. Worth the expense for his comfort!

[Stitch]

I was told by the vet that human grade eye drops can be used in a dogs eye so you should be able to use the same drops as humans do for this condition.

In humans dry eye usually responds to the lubricant eye drops and normally resolves the problem after a few weeks of treatment. As people get older dry eye becomes harder to treat.

I would be giving the lubricant type eye drops as Showdog mentioned a go before resorting to more intrusive procedures.

Why did they prescribe the Tacrolimus?? Is it an immune mediated condition? If so then that is an entirely different proposition altogether and much more challenging to address.

Edited April 17, 2012 by Stitch

[donski]

I guess the Tracrolimus is treating the original condition - solar blepharo conjunctivitis - allergic immune reaction the sun. Apparently this chronic condition has been the trigger for the the dry eye.