My dog's eye scratch: What to do for eyelid spasms and pain?

Question

My bullmastiff was diagnosed with a cornea scratch 1 week ago. She came home with tobra and atropine drops. We stopped the tobra today since it said for 1 week. Still on the atropine which I'm not excited about but she is still really spasming her eyelids. She is also now doing her "good" eye that way. I'm assuming because of how hard she is spasming her affected eye. My vet is closed for the holiday and I was just wondering if there was something else we could do to help relax her eyelids. Pet's info: Dog | Bullmastiff | Female | unspayed | 105 lbs

Christie Long, DVM · Accepted Answer

Atropine, when used in the eye, relaxes the ciliary body, the muscle that controls pupil size. In this way, it often helps to treat the pain associated with corneal abrasions or corneal ulcers. It does not cause the eyelid to spasm. What you are seeing is called blepharospasm, and it's a response to ocular pain. I would say that if Ripley is having blepharospasm at this point, it indicates to me that there is still pain associated with the initial abrasion. Typically we treat corneal injuries such as she has until we have rechecked them and are sure that they have completely resolved. I would recommend getting her back on the tobramycin and continuing the atropine until you are able to get her checked; preferably Friday or over the weekend.

My dog's eye scratch: What to do for eyelid spasms and pain?

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