Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How do I know if my dog has Dry Eye?
A. The best time to diagnose Dry Eye is early in the disease before all of the tear tissue has been destroyed. However, Dry Eye has a very varied appearance and can be subtle, especially early in the disease. Veterinary specialists in ophthalmology recommend testing virtually all sore eyes, especially if a dog has had more than one bout of conjunctivitis or eye infection within any 12-month period. Breeds susceptible to Dry Eye are normally tested on a regular basis.

Q. Why should I use cyclosporine ointment to treat Dry Eye?
A. Cyclosporine ointment is the only product available which treats the underlying cause of Dry Eye, as well as the clinical signs e.g. redness, discharge. Cyclosporine ointment also stimulates natural tear production, which have many functions that can not be replicated by artificial tears e.g. help protect against infection.

Q. How long should my dog take to respond to cyclosporine ointment?
A. Most dogs show an improvement in the appearance of their eyes within two weeks of starting cyclosporine ointment. It can take up to six weeks to reach the maximal increase in tear production to be reached.

Q. Why do I need to keep applying cyclosporine when my dog’s eyes look better?
A. In the majority of cases, Dry Eye is a disorder requiring lifelong treatment – it usually can not be cured. An improvement in the appearance of your dog’s eyes lets us know that the treatment is working. If treatment is stopped, the disease process resumes, with further destruction of tear tissue and deterioration of the eyes. Appropriate treatment preserves tear tissue, and improves the long term outlook for your dog’s eyes.