EFTF - expressing pluripotent cells form functional retinal cells and
eyes when transplanted
to the developing embryo, but can these
induced retinal cells also differentiate into all the functional retinal cell classes in a mature normal or
damaged retinal environment?
Other sources of dry
eye include drug toxicity (antibiotics such as sulphadiazine and sulphasalazine can cause temporary or permanent dry
eye in some animals), drug -
induced reaction (atropine and topical anesthetics temporarily reduce tear production), neurological impairment (
damage to the nerves leading
to the lacrimal glands), removal of the third eyelid (see Cherry
Eye), systemic disease (e.g. distemper), chronic conjunctivitis, trauma
to the tear glands, hypothyroidism, congenital disease (some dogs are born without lacrimal glands), breed predisposition.
However, as this process occurs in hypermature cataracts,
damage to the
eye also occurs in the form of lens -
induced inflammation (called lens -
induced uveitis or LIU).