, also called '''
Keratitis sicca''', '''
Xerophthalmia ''', '''dry eye syndrome''', or simply '''dry eyes''', is an
Eye Disease caused by decreased
Tear production or increased tear film evaporation commonly found in
Human s and small animals. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca is
Latin and the literal translation is "dryness of the
Cornea and
Conjunctiva ".
In humans, the typical symptoms of keratoconjunctivitis sicca are burning and a sandy-gritty eye irritation that gets worse as the day goes on. The symptoms are often caused by a loss of water from the tears that results in tears that are too "salty" or
Hypertonic .
The best treatment strategies are designed to rehydrate the tears and eye surface, and include hypotonic, electrolyte-balanced tears, punctal plugs (tiny, usually plastic plugs inserted into the tear ducts to prevent tear drainage, trapping tears in the eyes), and moist chamber spectacles. The inflammation that occurs in response to tears film hypertonicity can be suppressed by mild topical
Steroids or
Immunosuppressant s such as
Cyclosporine , but these treatments have not been shown to help symptoms.
Dry eyes can be treated with the perscription drop Restasis, the only eye drop proven to increase tear production over a long period of time
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Keratoconjunctivitis sicca usually occurs in people who are otherwise healthy. It is more common with older age, because tear production decreases with age. In rare cases, it can be associated with
Rheumatoid Arthritis ,
Lupus Erythematosus ,
Sjögren's Syndrome and other similar diseases. It may also be caused by thermal or chemical burns, or (in
Epidemic cases) by
Adenovirus es. A number of studies have found that those with
Diabetes are more at risk for KCS. (PMID 15767060, PMID 15663232, PMID 15218664)
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca is common in
Dog s. Most cases are caused by a
Genetic predisposition, but chronic
Conjunctivitis ,
Canine Distemper , and drugs such as
Sulfasalazine and
Trimethoprim-sulfonamide also cause the disease. Symptoms include eye redness, a yellow or greenish discharge,
Ulcer ation of the cornea,
Pigment ed cornea, and blood vessels on the cornea. Diagnosis is made by measuring tear production with a
Schirmer Tear Test . Less than 15 millimeters of tears produced in a minute is abnormal.
Tear replacers are a mainstay of treatment, preferably containing
Methylcellulose or
Carboxymethyl Cellulose . Cyclosporine stimulates tear production and acts as a suppressant on the
Immune-mediated processes that cause the disease. Topical
Antibiotic s and
Corticosteroid s are sometimes used to treat secondary infections and inflammation. A surgery known as
Parotid Duct transposition is used in some extreme cases where medical treatment has not helped. This redirects the duct from the
Parotid Salivary Gland to the eye.
Saliva replaces the tears. Dogs suffering from
Cherry Eye should have the condition corrected to help prevent this disease.
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca is uncommon in
Cat s. Most cases seem to be caused by chronic conjunctivitis, especially secondary to
Feline Herpesvirus . Diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment are similar to dogs.
