Your Pets and Glaucoma

Glaucoma is increased pressure within the eye.  Cells inside the eye produce a clear fluid ("aqueous humor") that maintains the eye’s shape and nourishes the tissues inside the eye. The balance of fluid production and drainage is responsible for maintaining normal pressure within the eye. In glaucoma, the drain becomes clogged, but the eye continue producing fluid, resulting in increase eye pressure, which can actually can cause the eye to stretch and enlarge, in addition to blinding the eye. Glaucoma is not limited to humans – it can affect your pets, too!

Glaucoma is classified as primary or secondary in animals. Primary glaucoma is a hereditary disease, occurring breeds of American Cocker Spaniel Basset Hound Chow Chow, Shar Pei, Labrador Retriever, and Arctic Circle breeds (Huskies, Elkhounds, etc..) Touhg is rare in cats, and can happen is usually a result of chronic uveitis. Primary glaucoma usually starts in one eye, but in most of the animals, it is both eyes, which leads to complete blindness. Cause secondary glaucoma occurs when other eye diseases reduced liquid drainage. The most common causes of secondary glaucoma are inflammation inside the eye (uveitis), advanced cataracts, cancer of the eye and chronic retinal detachment.

Determine if your pet has a primary or secondary glaucoma, it is important because both the treatment and prognosis vary for each type. (Many pet insurance companies cover the tests and specialists needed to assess your pet, ask your provider.) Veterinary Ophthalmologists slit biomicroscopy, indirect ophthalmoscopy, and gonioscopy to determine the type and cause of glaucoma in your pet home. Gonioscopy can help you determine how your pet predisposes one to develop the eye for glaucoma is suspected residual vision in glaucoma. This test involves placing a special contact lens on the eye, which conducted the examination of the drainage is usually under sedation or general anesthesia.