OBJECTIVE To present ophthalmic findings, clinical data, and treatment outcomes of 16 juvenile Yorkshire Terriers with severe unilateral keratoconjunctivitis sicca. RESULTS Each of the 16 dogs exhibited extreme unilateral dryness associated with blepharospasm, mucoid discharge, and corneal vascularization. Ages of affected dogs at presentation ranged from 5 months to 4 years. Mean Schirmer te...

PURPOSE To review and integrate recent advances in identifying the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of dry eye conditions and the biological rationale and practical clinical aspects of newer, antiinflammatory theories. METHODS A comprehensive literature survey. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (KCS) is a multifactorial and complex disorder in which ocular surface in...

This study evaluates tear ferning as an ancillary technique for the evaluation of the canine tear film in normal eyes and eyes affected by keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). Thirty dogs with KCS and 50 control dogs with normal tear film were evaluated with a full ophthalmoscopic examination and a Schirmer tear test type 1 (STT) determined before tear samples were obtained from the medial canthus...

Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the exocrine glands. It characterized by lymphocytic infiltrate in lacrimal and salivary glands causing keratoconjunctivitis sicca xerostomia. Extra-glandular involvement may be present about one-third patients with primary Sjogren’s (pSS). The most commonly affected organs are thyroid, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, skin, n...

OBJECTIVE To determine whether an association between keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) and meibomian gland lipids exists in patients with chronic blepharitis. METHODS Meibomian gland lipids were collected from normal patients and those with chronic blepharitis. Some of the chronic blepharitis patients had an ocular surface abnormality with apparent aqueous deficiency similar to KCS. Lipids we...

PURPOSE To establish a rabbit model for keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) to study autologous submandibular gland transfer for treating severe KCS. METHODS In 2 groups of 10 rabbits, left eyes were operated and right eyes were controls. In the trichloroacetic acid-treated group, the lacrimal and harderian glands and nictitating membrane were removed surgically; the palpebral and bulbar conjunc...

Fifty patients suffering from KCS and exhibiting various patterns of corneal staining with fluorescein were examined for adenovirus types 3, 7, 8, and 14, herpes simplex, and the TRIC group by tissue culture and immunofluorescein techniques. No viruses were detected by either methods, and it is considered that presumption of virus involvement in these cases is untenable.

We compared the relative value of the tear film breakup time, Schirmer test, lactoferrin immunologic assay and rose bengal staining in 156 patients with varying severity of symptoms characteristic of keratoconjunctivitis sicca and in 39 controls. Statistical analysis showed that in patients with minimal ocular irritation the Schirmer test in combination with the lactoferrin immunologic assay pr...