![]() The cornea is cloudy, the eye is red and inflamed, and often enlarged. In chronic glaucoma, the pupil has no response to light, and the blink response is absent. With sudden glaucoma, the pupil has a sluggish response to light, the blink response is weak or nonexistent, the cornea is swollen or cloudy, the eye is red, inflamed, tearing, and the dog may be squinting. In the event of an eye abscess, injury, or tumor, an X-ray or ultrasound may be done to get a closer look at the space around the eye. A drop of anesthetic is often applied first to keep the dog comfortable during the exam. Another type presses a small plastic disk against the eyeball to measure pressure. One type of tonometer blows a puff of air onto the eye to measure the indentation. There are a few types of tonometers - those that touch the eyeball directly, one that only touches the eyelid, and another that doesn’t touch the eye at all. The veterinarian will test the intraocular pressure (IOP) using a tonometer, a tool for checking the pressure exerted by the fluid inside the eye. In some cases, your veterinarian may refer you to an ophthalmologist for a more detailed examination of both eyes. Along with gathering as much medical history as possible, the veterinarian will conduct an ophthalmologic exam. Time is a critical factor for treating glaucoma, which is why it’s vital that a dog showing signs sees a veterinarian immediately. If your dog has been in an accident that caused significant damage to the eye structure, the best solution may be the complete removal of the eye to reduce the pain and prevent glaucoma from becoming an ongoing issue. If your dog is diagnosed with secondary glaucoma, the original condition that caused glaucoma must be treated promptly.įor instance, in dogs with cataracts that can be removed surgically, treatment can be effective at putting a stop to the progression of glaucoma symptoms, and pressure within the eye can be relieved with medication or laser treatment. Your veterinarian will first determine the type of glaucoma your dog has before creating a course of action. In turn, the eye cannot remain healthy, and vision is lost. Whether your dog is diagnosed with primary or secondary glaucoma, the result is the same: the inability to drain fluid properly and keep the pressure in the eye at a safe level. Secondary glaucoma is more common than primary glaucoma in dogs. Bleeding, swelling, and inflammation can occur, scar tissue may form, and the drainage of fluid is hindered, if not blocked entirely. Secondary glaucoma is the result of another or concurrent eye condition. The condition can happen at any age, but most dogs with primary glaucoma are diagnosed early or mid-life, around 3-7 years old. It is not the result of an underlying disease as is the case in secondary glaucoma. It is usually inherited because of a genetic predisposition within certain breeds. In primary glaucoma, the fluid flow rate into or out of the eye is abnormal, which increases pressure. Not only is it painful, it will lead to irreversible blindness if left untreated. Time is of the essence when it comes to this condition. If you notice any signs and symptoms of glaucoma, have your dog checked out immediately. It can also be years before the second eye becomes affected. Rarely will it occur simultaneously in both eyes or with equal pressure. Vision problems: bumping into objects, difficulty finding things, walking cautiouslyĪs a dog ages, the clinical signs may occur in one eye and then the other. Clinical signs to look out for include:Įye pain: Rubbing up against the floor or another object or with the pawĪppearance of vessels in the white of the eye However, dogs do not show pain in the way humans can, so it may be difficult to detect when they are actually hurting. Glaucoma causes pain that’s more severe in dogs than in humans. Thus, an increase in intraocular pressure will almost always result in blindness in the affected eye because of the damage to the retina or optic nerve. This is an issue because the retina’s function is to convert images into nerve signals and the optic nerve carries these signals from the retina to the brain to produce vision. When intraocular pressure is high it can lead to damage or degeneration of the optic nerve and retina. Why is an increase in intraocular pressure a problem? ![]() When the eye is unable to drain enough of the aqueous humor fluid it can lead to glaucoma in dogs. Intraocular pressure is the fluid pressure inside the eye that is able to be maintained if the absorption or drainage and production of the aqueous humor fluid are equal. What is intraocular pressure and how is it maintained? If too much fluid is made or too little fluid is drained, the pressure of the eye, called intraocular pressure (IOP), increases and causes damage to the retina and the optic nerve. Glaucoma is a condition that causes a build-up of fluid (referred to as aqueous fluid) and pressure in the eye. ![]()
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