Glaucoma is a serious disorder characterized by fluid build-up inside of the eye. It causes increased intraocular pressure, vision impairment and, if untreated, blindness. Glaucoma can be primary or secondary. Primary glaucoma is a genetic disease that most commonly affects certain breeds. It typically is progressive and eventually causes blindness in both eyes. Secondary glaucoma results from some other primary eye disease or damage. Either type of glaucoma can be acute or chronic in onset.The
Glaucoma refers to elevated pressure inside the eye that causes vision impairment and, if left untreated, blindness due to degenerative damage to the retina and optic nerve. The clinical signs of canine glaucoma are fairly nonspecific and change over time depending on the stage of the disease. Many owners do not realize that their dog is suffering from glaucoma until the condition has progressed to an advanced stage. However, subtle changes in the appearance of
Glaucoma in dogs is diagnosed by conducting a thorough physical examination and an ophthalmic inspection of the eyes. Specific instruments are used to assess intraocular pressure and, if necessary, advanced diagnostic techniques can be used to determine the health of or extent of damage to the eyes.At the outset, glaucoma must be differentiated from other causes of non-specific eye redness and irritation, including conjunctivitis, anterior uveitis, ectropion and entropion, among many others. This is accomplished
Treating options for glaucoma in dogs vary based upon the underlying cause of the condition. Treatment normally involves application of topical eye medications, administration of systemic medication and eventually surgery. This progressive condition may occur in one or both eyes, and immediate treatment is necessary to prevent permanent eye damage, pain and blindness. The goals of glaucoma therapy are to lower intraocular pressure of affected eyes in order to maintain the dog’s vision as long