Dogs’ vision is very important to their day-to-day routine. Small changes can not only affect their ability to navigate confidently but also their confidence and make them reluctant to go out for walks or play. This can have a significant impact on their quality of life. Glaucoma in dogs can significantly affect your dog’s vision.
What is glaucoma in dogs?
The medical definition for glaucoma is the increase in intraocular pressure (the pressure inside the eye). Glaucoma is a type of neuropathy (a term we use to describe a condition affecting a nerve) which, due to either progressive or rapid build up of pressure within the eye, eventually leads to damage to the optic nerve.
The optic nerve is the structure responsible to relay the information associated with our vision from the retina (a thin structure located at the furthermost back part of the eye) to the brain. Normally, there is a balance between the amount of fluid created in the eye and the amount of fluid that exits the eye.
Glaucoma develops when the amount of fluid created in the eye, known as aqueous humour, cannot flow or be drained effectively out of the eye, leading to a progressive build -up of pressure within the eye.
How glaucoma develops in a dog’s eye?
Glaucoma develops due to an imbalance between the amount of the fluid created in the eye (called aqueous humour) and the amount of fluid drained away from the eye via the iridocorneal angle. In most cases, glaucoma develops due to a compromised outflow path which occurs due to a hereditary predisposition in most cases but growths of the eye, injuries and inflammation can also lead to glaucoma in dogs.
How glaucoma affects dog’s vision?
Glaucoma leads to an increase in pressure in the eye, which in turn applies strain and compression around the nerve of the eye (called optic nerve). The optic nerve is responsible for transmitting the signal of vision to the brain. Initially, and while the pressure is gradually increasing over the normal range, the damage can be reversible.
However, during the end-stage glaucoma process, once the pressure is markedly increased, the damage at the optic nerve is irreversible and all vision is lost, leading to permanent blindness.
Does glaucoma affect both eyes?
Glaucoma in dogs can develop due to hereditary predisposition, trauma, inflammation in the eye or growths of the eye or certain types of cancer that can metastasise from other locations of the body to the eye. In some cases, especially in dogs with hereditary predisposition to develop glaucoma, it will eventually affect both eyes; however, in the majority of dogs the signs of glaucoma do not develop at the same time in both eyes, which allows us to act preventatively and consider treatment options. In some cases it can take years before glaucoma affects the second eye.
When to see a veterinary ophthalmologist
If your dog is showing early signs of glaucoma, such clouding, redness and pain in their eyes or if your vets are worried about the possibility of glaucoma, we would encourage you to seek advice from a veterinary ophthalmologist.
If you are worried about your dog’s glaucoma, we are here for you. Request an appointment and get in touch with one of our specialised ophthalmologists.
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