What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an increase of pressure within the eye that causes degenerative changes in the optic nerve and retina which can lead to blindness. Glaucoma is a very painful condition for both humans and animals and treatment is required to manage the pain and possibly save the vision in the eye.
What causes Glaucoma?
- Glaucoma is commonly seen in pure bred dogs (ex: Cocker Spaniel, Basset Hound, Bouvier, Springer Spaniel, Beagle, Shar Pei, Chow Chow, as well as many others)
- Primary Glaucoma is a hereditary defect where the filtering mechanism around the iris is blocked off
- Secondary Glaucoma refers to increased pressure in the eye due to other diseases (ex: anterior uveitis, lens luxation, and hyphema)
What are the signs of Glaucoma?
- Red eye
- Cornea may turn blue
- Pain
- Pupil may be dilated
- Watery discharge from the eye
- Blindness
- Enlargement of the eye
How is Glaucoma treated?
- Rapid diagnosis and treatment within 72 hours is critical to save your pet’s vision.
- A referral to a Veterinary Opthamologist is required to perform and general anesthetic to place a shut in the animals eye in order to save the vision.
- If we have passed the 72 hour mark, irreversible damage has occurred to the eye and the shunt is no longer an option.
- At this point there are two surgeries that can be performed to remove the eye and the source of the pain for the animal. A surgery to remove the eye and sew the lids shut (enucleation) or having a silicone implant placed in the empty socket for cosmetic reason (this would maintain the shape of the eye and the eye would move normally)
- Once your dog has been treated for Glaucoma, the pressures of both eyes should be monitored every 3 months for the first year after surgery, then every 6 months after that.
- Since Glaucoma can be a genetic condition, the Veterinarian may recommend using preventive eye drops to keep the other eye from developing Glaucoma.
www.TownandCountryAnimalClinic.ca
