Dry Eye (KCS) in Cats

Overview and Facts

What is

• Dry Eye in Cats: An Overview
Dry eye in cats is a condition in which the glands of the eyelids are unable to properly secrete lubrication to protect the eye and keep it moist. Dry eye is a serious condition that can result in severe pain and blindness if it is not addressed.

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Causes

• Causes of Dry Eye in Cats
The majority of dry eye cases in cats are due to an infection with feline herpesvirus. In rarer cases, dry eye can be caused by injury or through removal of the third eyelid.

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Symptoms and Types

Symptoms

• Symptoms of KCS (Dry Eye) in Cats

Symptoms of Dry Eye in cats include discharge, wwelling of the eyelids, red eye membranes, rubbing of the face, and sensitivity to light.




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Treatment and Care

Treatment

• Treating Dry Eye: Non-Surgical Options
Non-surgical treatment options for dry eye, or keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) in cats involves using a number of lubricating eye drops in addition to drops which cut through the mucosal layer that forms over the eye in KCS conditions. Cats that are suffering from KCS due to chronic feline herpesvirus may benefit from supportive immune therapies.

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• Treating Dry Eye: Surgical Options
While there are non-surgical treatment options for dry eye in cats, some cats do not respond well to these treatments, and in some cases pet owners are not able to administer the amount of drops needed to effectively treat the condition. When nonsurgical treatment options fail, a surgical procedure known as parotid duct transplantation may be used to treat dry eye.

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