Dry Eye at 20 months old!

[valcam]

Poppy has been to the vets several times over the last few weeks with a problem with her left eye. First diagnosis was an infection but tear tests showed a normal reading in her right eye but left eye was barely 1. Optimune was diagnosed for use three times a day but tonight her readings in the tear test are still barely 1. We have now been refered to an eye specialist to see what the next course of treatment might be. I know the vets have to give you worse case scenario but to be told she could be blind by the time she is four was a big shock and very upsetting. Came home and had a cry and a cuddle with her. Has anyone got experience of this and any fur babies who are doing ok. I feel so angry, our last cocker had eye problems and I thought I had been so careful choosing a breeder but our vet says its just bad luck. Thanks in advance for any advice xx

[elaine.e]

Sorry to hear that 

William has Dry Eye, diagnosed when he was about 5 or so after having his tear ducts flushed a couple of times and having recurring bouts of conjunctivitis in his right eye. He is now 11 and his eyesight is still good. He has Optimmune in both eyes once a day and a check up with the ophthalmologist every 6 months. 

You're doing absolutely the right thing by taking her to see a specialist. Dry Eye can cause blindness but that's more typically in undiagnosed and untreated dogs. Those who receive treatment, typically Optimmune, sometimes with the additional support of lubricating eye drops, mostly do well. So please try not to worry too much about what your vet has said. You'll know more once you've seen the specialist and hopefully the prognosis given will be more positive.

If Poppy is prescribed Optimmune again ask the vet for a repeat prescription. The ophthalmologist writes one for William that lasts 6 months and up to 6 tubes of Optimmune. The prescription costs me £13 but means that I can buy Optimmune at around £23 per tube online, a saving of about 50% 0n the amount charged by the vet. I buy it from Pet Drugs Online.

The instructions about Optimmune say to discard the tube after 4 weeks, but up to 6 weeks is safe. It was the ophthalmologist who told me that!

[valcam]

Thank you Elaine, so glad to hear William is still doing well at 11. I am glad she has passed us on to the specialist, not sure the optimmune is working but he will know of another treatment. Thank you for the advice re the prescription, pet plan are paying for everything at the moment though I dread to think what my renewal will be like! She did say that her eye looks completely un damaged but she thinks the tear ducts might have been destroyed would that be by the disease? Will write some things down. To ask the specialist as I think your mind goes blank once you arrive. Thank you again xx

[moneypenny]

Penny was diagnosed with dry eye a month or so ago. She is two and a half. She also had recurrent eye infections and was eventually sent to an eye specialist. I was upset at the time, but really I think now it's more an inconvenience than anything else. You have to remember to put drops in her eyes twice a day. Penny's eye specialist says the drops will prevent blindness, so as long as you keep them up every thing should be OK.
It's good that it was caught early. Don't stress too much about it. Penny's eye specialist has prescribed tacromilus. I posted about this some time ago.

[Pearly]

Pet Plan are very good.  They have a policy not to increase premiums just because you've made a claim, however, there is an annual increase which is due to the age of the animal insured!  Not sure how it works for dogs but cats age 10 you also have to start making a % contribution towards vet fees/claims...

Now I've read your post I'm off to put some Lubrithal in Corals eyes - she's really good at letting me do it now   

Hope it's better news at the eye specialist x

[valcam]

Thank you, feeling a bit happier now, three weeks before we can see the eye specialist as he is only at our vets one morning a week. Will go armed with lots of questions, and will update here after xxx