Dry Eye or KCS- New Effective Treatment
Source: vcahospitals.com
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) is a condition that is also commonly referred to as dry eye. The medical term means inflammation of the cornea and surrounding tissues from drying. It is a common eye condition resulting from inadequate production of the aqueous portion of the tear film by the lacrimal gland and/or gland of the third eyelid gland.
What causes dry eye?
Tears are required to lubricate the cornea and remove any debris or infectious agents that may contact the eye. The tear film is a mixture of mucus, fatty liquid, and water.
Any condition that impairs the ability to produce adequate amounts of tear film can result in dry eye. Some of the common causes of KCS include: - Immune-mediated diseases that damage the tear producing glands. This is the most common cause of KCS and is poorly understood. The body's immune system attacks the cells that produce a portion of the tear film resulting in decreased production. This is thought to be an inherited disorder.
- Systemic diseases such as canine distemper virus infections.
- Medications such as certain sulphonamides (sulfa drugs).
- Hypothyroidism.
- Nervous system effects of an inner ear infection (neurogenic KCS).
What are the clinical signs of dry eye?
Most dogs have painful, red, and irritated eyes. They often squint, blink excessively or hold the eyes shut. There is often a thick, yellowish, mucoid discharge present as a result of the decrease in the aqueous (watery) component of the tear film. Corneal ulceration is often present. In chronic cases, there is often a history of recurrent eye injuries, ulcers, or conjunctivitis.
NEW Alternative Treatment
Well this comes from a study using Green Tea
Efficacy of Green Tea Extract for Treatment of Dry Eye and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction; A Double-blind Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial Study
Mahmood Nejabat,1 Salehi Ali Reza,2 Mehdi Zadmehr,3 Masoud Yasemi,
4 and Zahra Sobhani5
Introduction
With an incidence rate of 9%, dry eye is a common problem of the ocular surface, especially in patients more than 40-year-old. Green tea extract has anti-oxidative, anti-bacterial, anti-androgen, and immunomodulatory properties.
Aim
To evaluate the efficacy of green tea extract for treatment of patients with dry eye and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD)
Conclusion
Green tea extract is an effective, safe, and well-tolerated topical treatment for mild and moderate evaporative dry eyes and MGD.
So if you have a dog with dry eye, I would incorporate concentrated green tea drops for treatment. You can also give your dog green tea orally. | 
