Glaucoma is a condition where pressure builds up in the eyeball, damaging the structures and leading to blindness.
Introduction
A dog’s eyeball is filled with fluid that nourishes the eye, cushions it, and helps it keep its shape. Some of this fluid is thick, like jelly, while some are thin, like water. The fluid constantly moves because new fluid is added all the time while the older fluid is removed.
Any problem that either blocks the outflow of fluid or increases the inflow results in pressure building up in the eyeball, a condition known as glaucoma.
Over time, the increased pressure can seriously damage the structures of the eye, especially the delicate retina and optic nerve, resulting in blindness.
How does it happen?
Fluid drains out of the eye in the area between the lens and the cornea. Glaucoma can develop if this area is damaged from trauma (e.g., a car accident), a bacterial or viral infection, a tumor, parasites, etc. In addition, genetic problems with the fluid outflow are seen in certain breeds of dogs (e.g., American Cocker Spaniel, Basset Hound, Siberian Husky, Samoyed, and Shar Pei), which increases their risk of glaucoma.
Early signs of glaucoma
In early glaucoma, signs include:
- redness in the whites of the eyes
- a slightly enlarged pupil
- and an eyeball that is a little larger or harder than normal
Signs of advanced glaucoma
In more advanced glaucoma, signs include:
- an obviously enlarged eyeball
- a noticeably enlarged pupil
- and a cloudy cornea.
Glaucoma can also be very painful, so your dog may squint, paw at its face, or stop eating. Signs of illness often develop gradually but can occur quite suddenly if the fluid drainage from the eye is blocked abruptly.
Glaucoma can be an emergency
If you notice signs of glaucoma, you should take your dog to your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Signs that occur suddenly should be treated as an emergency.
How is glaucoma treated?
Your vet will anesthetize the eye with local anesthetic eye drops and then measure the pressure in the eye with an instrument called a tonometer. (If your dog is a member of a high-risk breed, your vet may recommend periodic tonometry so that if glaucoma does develop, it can be caught early).
Treatment is aimed at managing pain, decreasing the pressure in the eyeball, and preventing blindness (when possible).
Eye drops can be prescribed to ease painful spasms and to enlarge the fluid drainage area. In some cases, oral medication can also lower pressure in the eye by decreasing fluid production. However, surgery may be needed to open up the drainage area or to place artificial drains that can help draw fluid off the eye. In such cases, your veterinarian may refer you to a specialist or veterinary teaching hospital.
Glaucoma can cause blindness
Surgery to remove the painful eye may be recommended in long-term or advanced disease cases in which blindness has already developed.
Related articles:
Bulging Eyes in Dogs: When Your Dog’s Bulging Eyes Are Not Normal, And You Should Be Concerned
Causes of Cloudy Eyes in Dogs: What’s Happening To My Dog’s Eyes?
Further reading:
Glaucoma in Dogs