Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Using lissamine green eye stain to detect dry eye in dogs
By Smith, Sara M et al.·Published in Veterinary ophthalmology·2020·Department of Clinical Sciences & Advanced Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Conjunctival staining with lissamine green as a predictor of tear film deficiency in dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of dogs underwent testing for tear film deficiency, which can cause eye problems. The researchers used a special dye called lissamine green to stain the conjunctiva (the membrane covering the eye) and graded the staining. They found that dogs with lower tear production (measured by the Schirmer tear test) had higher staining grades, indicating more severe tear film deficiency. This means that the lissamine green test can help veterinarians diagnose eye issues related to tear production in dogs.
People also search for: dog eye problems · lissamine green test for dogs · tear film deficiency in dogs · how to treat dry eyes in dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a grading scheme for conjunctival staining patterns with lissamine green ocular dye in the diagnosis of tear film deficiencies in dogs. PROCEDURES: Client-owned and research colony dogs were enrolled in a prospective study between February and October 2018 in which slit-lamp biomicroscopy, Schirmer tear test (STT), tear film breakup time (TFBUT), conjunctival lissamine green staining (LGS), and intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement were performed in both eyes of all dogs. Lissamine green staining of the temporal bulbar conjunctiva was graded from 0-3, with a higher grade corresponding to an increased stain intensity. RESULTS: Fifty-four dogs (107 eyes), comprising 31 males and 23 females with a mean age of 5.0 ± 3.9 years (range 0.5-14.3), were enrolled in the study. STT was <15 mm/min in 21 eyes and ≥15 mm/min in 86 eyes. Lissamine green staining grade for eyes with a STT of <15 mm/min (2.0 ± 0.9) was significantly higher than for eyes with a STT ≥15 mm/min (0.2 ± 0.7) (P < .001). TFBUT for eyes with a STT <15 mm/min (6.5 ± 4.4 seconds) was significantly shorter than for eyes with a STT ≥ 15 mm/min (16.1 ± 3.6 seconds) (P < .001). As LGS grade increased, both STT (P < .001) and TFBUT (P < .001) significantly decreased. CONCLUSIONS: A higher LGS grade was significantly associated with a lower STT and more rapid TFBUT in dogs. Lissamine green ocular dye can be considered as an adjunctive diagnostic test when evaluating tear film deficiency in dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32386097/