We are glad to share a vet case study captured by QuikVue eye imaging adaptor from Dr. Allison Fuchs.
Dry eye alert! With a common sequela - corneal ulceration.
This is a chronic case of KCS (keratoconjunctivitis sicca) which has severe changes in the right eye and mild dry eye in the left. The right eye has other congenital ocular abnormalities and has been affected since birth, with presumptive congenital alacrima - meaning the dog was born without the ability to produce normal tears. The left eye has been well maintained on medical therapy up until recently and as you can see, now has a concerning corneal ulcer.
Dry eye leads to corneal ulcers because normal tears provide lubrication, nourishment, and antibacterial properties to the ocular surface. Without that, the cornea dries out more quickly, and small abrasions become big problems. Often these dogs end up needing surgery to graft the cornea because they cannot heal normally. We have started aggressive medical therapy - fortunately the owners caught this quickly - and we’ll see how this patient looks in a few days. Close monitoring is critical for these cases as things can change fast!
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