Optimmune®

mammaleye.com

Optimmune contains cyclosporin which is an immunosuppressive drug. Optimune is used in the treatment of dry eye (decreased tear production) in the dog. Dry eye in dogs is caused by a autoimmune reaction which causes the tear glands to become inflamed, which reduces tear production. Optimune reverses this inflammation. Optimune is also thought to directly stimulate tear production. Optimmune is 0.2% cyclosporine and some dogs may nead a higher concentration of cyclosporine to control the tear production. 1% solution of cyclosporine in castor oil that may be used for cases of dry eye that don't respond to Optimmune.

If 1% Cyclosporine doesn't have the desired effect on the tear production, chronic treatment with viscotears may be necessary. The other option is to have surgery performed to use the duct of the salivary gland to lubricate the eye (parotid duct transposition).

This section of Mammaleye.com is written for Owner's of patients under my therapy. Others may of cause gain knowledge about eye diseases in pets. Remember that other veterinary ophthalmologists may wish to treat diseases of the eye in a different way than myself.

If you as an owner want further information (scientific) about eyedisases then have a look at www.mammaleye.com/prof.htm or go to pubmed and do a search on Medline - the main resource of scientific information for the whole medical profession.