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Section: Overview
Corneal ulceration is loss of the corneal epithelium (the outermost cells of the cornea) with exposure and possible loss of the underlying corneal collagen. Corneal epithelium is constantly being lost and replaced, and its health and thickness depend on a delicate balance between cell loss and regeneration. Causes of excessive cell loss include injury from ingrown or misplaced eyelashes, exposure to foreign material, chemicals, heat or smoke, infections with certain viruses and bacteria, and from trauma such as cat scratches. Decreased tear production ("dry eye" or keratoconjunctivitis sicca) and inadequate blink responses may cause corneal ulceration. The potential causes of corneal ulcers are almost too numerous to list.Corneal ulceration can affect any animal; however, those breeds of dogs with more protuberant (prominent) eyes and larger eyelid openings are at increased risk.
A cloudy eye or increased opacity of the eye is associated with reduced transparency of either the cornea, the fluid media within the eye, or the lens that may or may not be associated with a reduction...
Eyes become reddened when blood vessels that are normally present in the white tissue surrounding the cornea or the pink tissue overlying the sclera and lining the eyelids become enlarged or filled with...
Epiphora is an abnormal overflow of tears down the face that results from either obstruction of tear drainage through the tear duct or overproduction of tears that overwhelms the normal drainage system....
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