Liz Buchanan BVSc MRCVS
Keymaster
Hello! I wonder about dry-eye (lack of protective tear-film, resulting in the eye becoming irritated or infected more easily), a tumour, or entropion (where an eyelash scrapes against the globe). Entropion is connected to the shape of the eyelid / anatomy and is often a lifelong condition beginning in youth, but sometimes the nerves to the eye can be damaged or interrupted, so that isn't quite so clear-cut. I don't know your golden girl, but it is also possible from looking at the picture that her temporal muscles have lost volume, in which case general muscle volume or neurological tone may be responsible. This can happen for many reasons, a lot of them serious.
A veterinary consultation would be a very good idea. They can assess the eye, the tear-film and the surrounding musculature properly and in context. You ask about drugs - antibiotics are sometimes helpful where a simple infection is present (one for your vet), but in the case of a long-term dry, taccy-looking discharge, there is often more to it. None of the conditions I mentioned above would be treated with antibiotic eye-drops alone and I haven't mentioned ulcers yet, which can get much worse very quickly if ignored. Eyes are like any other body part in that the problem needs to be diagnosed, so that the correct cause can be treated. Furthermore, eyes are more sensitive than most other body-parts and more difficult to repair once damaged. For this reason, eye problems are often classed as emergencies. We would advise contacting your vet ASAP for an appointment.
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