Dry eyes can affect all breeds of dogs, but it is much more common in predisposed breeds. Dry Eyes is more commonly seen in dogs than cats. The following breeds of dogs are more likely to get dry eyes; Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Pugs, Cocker Spaniels, West Highland Terriers, Miniature Schnauzers, Boston Terriers, Bulldogs, Lhasa Apsos, and Shih-Tzus. Dry Eyes predominantly affects middle-aged and older dogs.

• A change in a dog’s immune system function due to health reasons can lead to dry eyes. Immune-mediated diseases can damage the tear producing glands (lacrimal glands). Despite being the most common cause of dry eyes, it is still poorly understood. The body's immune system attacks the cells that produce a portion of the tear film, reducing the quantity of tears produced.
• Taking certain medications, such as sulphonamides (i.e.: eye drops containing preservatives) can lead to dry eyes.
• Diseases, such as canine distemper virus, hypothyroidism, glaucoma, and diabetes can lead to dry eyes.
• Genetics seems to play a role. Since certain breeds are more susceptible to developing dry eyes over other breeds, this suggests that dry eyes can be an inherited disorder.
• The environment, such as heated or air-conditioned homes, and dry, dusty locations can cause seasonal or even longer-term dry eye disease.
• Ageing is a factor. As the animal ages, the lacrimal and meibomian glands do not function as efficiently, leading to dry eye disease.

Yes, I-DROP® VET products are ideal for treating non-infected corneal ulcers. The literature shows that the sodium hyaluronate in our I-DROP® VET products speeds up the healing process for corneal ulcers. In addition, our I-DROP® VET GEL is preservative-free and every drop that is dispensed is sterile.

Start by forming a fist with your hand and place the bottle between your thumb and index finger. This will allow you to apply greater pressure on the bottle. Also, take into consideration that this preservative-free solution takes time to travel through the one-way valve system. Other eyedrop bottles on the market do not have this sophisticated system to keep the drops sterile, so they may seem easier to dispense.

I-DROP® VET PLUS contains a mild preservative and can be used up until the expiration date. I-DROP® VET GEL is safe to use for 12 months after opening, since this product does not contain any preservatives. The one-way valve and anti-bacterial tip ensure sterile delivery of each drop.

I-DROP® VET PLUS and I-DROP® VET GEL both have a neutral level of pH7.2

The differences between I-DROP® VET PLUS and I-DROP® VET GEL are as follows:
I-DROP® VET PLUS has a preservative in it, whereas I-DROP® VET GEL is preservative-free.
I-DROP® VET PLUS is recommended for more mild cases of dry eyes and shorter periods of use, such as seasonal dry eye. Since I-DROP® VET GEL is preservative-free, it can be used in all cases of dry eyes, even in mild cases, however, it is especially effective for moderate to severe cases.
If you are extremely price sensitive, then I-DROP® VET PLUS is a better option than most other preserved products because it has a mild preservative and the Hyaluronan (HA) will give the patient superior hydration and longer-lasting comfort.

Ask your veterinarian to recommend an application frequency, depending on the severity of dry eyes. I-DROP® VET does not have any limitations in the frequency of use and may be used as needed. Generally, we would recommend two applications a day, once in the morning and once at night. Please refer to the question that outlines the differences between our two drops to make sure you are using the right artificial tear for your pet.

No, I-DROP® VET does not contain tetrahydrozoline. There is sufficient evidence that this drug only masks the inflammation by hiding the “red eye” by vasoconstriction, which constrict (shrinks) the blood vessels on the conjunctiva of the eye to make them less visible. In addition, there is the rebound issue that happens with this drug where your eyes become less responsive over time, causing the blood vessels to dilate more. These vasoconstrictors can be found in certain over-the-counter eye drops.

No, nothing is animal sourced.

I-DROP® VET GEL may potentiate the effects of Optimmune. Cyclosporine helps reactivate the tear glands to produce more aqueous in animals with early stage disease and works best for aqueous deficient dry eye disease. However, most cases of dry eyes are evaporative or mixed evaporative and aqueous deficient. This means that there is almost always also a lipid deficiency, something that Optimmune does not correct. We recommend using I-DROP® VET GEL 15 minutes after administering Optimmune, to help capture the aqueous produced and keep it on the eye’s surface.

We recommend starting with I-DROP® VET GEL, and if it proves insufficient, to then add Optimmune if prescribed by your veterinarian. I-DROP® VET GEL is safer and less expensive than Optimmune and is usually sufficient by itself.
Optimmune’s package insert claims that it is only effective in the early stages of disease. Very often, patients are diagnosed and treated later in the disease process. Alternately, I-DROP® VET GEL works in early, mid, and late stages of dry eye disease as well as all severity levels. I-DROP® VET is also much more cost-effective than Optimmune, and therefore the better option for managing dry eyes.
Further, Optimmune functions by stimulating the production of aqueous tears but does not address the much more component type of KCS, evaporative dry eye, that comes from a deficient tear lipid layer. In those uncommon cases where Optimmune is necessary, I-DROP® VET can be used 15 minutes after instillation to help capture the extra aqueous produced, and potentiate the effects of Optimmune and possibly reduce the patient’s reliance on the more expensive drug.

I-LID ’N LASH® VET does not have any toxic ingredients in the product. Therefore, if a dog ingests the product, it will not cause any harm to the animal. The only concern would be if an animal chewed off part of the pump bottle or wipes container, which could be harmful because the sharp edges on the chewed container may cause some indigestion.

Although I-LID ’N LASH® VET is a safe product that contains no harsh chemicals or antibiotics, you should avoid using any topical product on a pet with open wounds or sores. We recommend that you speak to your veterinarian regarding any questions relating to the health of your animal prior to using any product.

Both the wipes and the pump should be used within 6 months of opening. They both contain mild preservatives that keep them non-contaminated for that period. Care should be taken to wash hands before using these products.

This should be avoided; however, this product is completely safe to use around the eyes, it is pH balanced and it does not contain any harsh chemicals or antibiotics that may cause harm to the animal’s eyes.

Yes, this product is safe to use near your pet’s mouth and paws. The porphyrin that causes tear staining is not only excreted in your pet’s tears, but also in their saliva. Therefore, you might find staining near your pet’s mouth or on their paws. The very small amount that might be ingested by the animal licking their fur where I-LID N LASH VET is applied will not present any harm to your pet.

I-LID ’N LASH® VET contains borate, which is an anti-fungal compound and a mild preservative. When applied, I-LID ’N LASH® VET will prevent the formation of tear stains and reduce odors caused by the fermentation of the tear film and/or the accumulation of yeast and bacteria in facial folds. The hyaluronan and Carbopol hydrate the eyelids and skin and keep the active ingredients in place, disinfecting over time. There are no harsh chemicals or antibiotics in this product. I-LID ’N LASH® VET is completely safe to use, and it does not sting or burn.

Yes, since these odors are caused by bacteria and fungus, I-LID ’N LASH® VET is effective in reducing and eliminating this bioburden and therefore eliminate the cause for these odors.

Both these tests are an important step in diagnosing dry eye, however the I-TEAR® TEST is much quicker, and less invasive. The ITT takes 5 seconds per eye compared to the STT that takes 1 minute per eye. The ITT has a micropipette present in the strip that absorbs tears by capillary action making this test much quicker. We have conducted studies comparing the two tests and the I-TEAR® TEST is slightly more effective. Check out our comparison sheet for more detailed information on the differences between these two tests.

The I-TEAR® TEST provides a quantitative measurement of tear volume, whereas the I-PEN® VET provides a qualitive measurement of tear osmolarity measured in units of mOsms/L. The I-PEN® VET needs to be used with single-uses-sensors (SUS). More specifically, the I-PEN® VET determines tear osmolarity using impedance measurements of the saline concentration of the extracellular fluid contained in the eyelid tissue. There is no set amount of tears required to take an osmolarity reading. To get a proper tear osmolarity reading using the I-PEN® VET, the tip of the SUS needs to be placed gently but directly on the palpebral conjunctiva. Here’s a video that shows the I-PEN® VET in use: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL05tR4tww0

(VG548 - 8-0 versus VG449 – 9-0) The values of 8-0 and 9-0 designate the thickness of the sutures. The I-SUTURE 8-0 is 0.04 mm and the I-SUTURE 9-0 is 0.03 mm in diameter. They are used for different purposes. They key difference besides diameter is that VG548 – 8-0 is braided, whereas the VG449 – 9-0 is a monofilament.

Tearing can happen because of incorrectly loading the lens in the cartridge or the injector. In rare cases, it is the trailing haptic that will tear. When reading the loading instructions for the injector, veterinarians should take care to read and implement all the steps involved. The most important step in the loading process is the final step which calls for the surgeon to retract the blue plunger slightly before starting to inject the lens into the capsular bag. This ensures that the trailing haptic is liberated and does not get trapped between the blue plunger and the cartridge walls.

Yes, we do. For more information on surgical instruments, please contact customer service at 1-800-463-1008 or email us at info@imedanimalhealth.com.

There is 1ml in a BioHyalux syringe.