A variety of cacti thrive in Arizona, the most common of which are the prickly pear, cholla, saguaro, hedgehog cactus, barrel cactus and button cactus. The bristles and spines covering these cacti, especially the prickly pear and cholla are a frequent source of injuries in dogs’ and cats’ eyes.

At Eye Care for Animals, we often treat patients who present with spines impaled in or around the eye. Very often, these spines have penetrated the surface of the eye, reaching intraocular tissue, such as the iris or even the lens. In a few of our patients, we have seen spines that were completely embedded within the anterior chamber of the eye.

What is a Cataract?

A cataract is an abnormality of the lens in which an opacity or a cloudy change of the tissue prevents light from reaching the retina. Cataracts can develop in one or both eyes and in severe cases can lead to blindness. Some cataracts may develop very quickly.

A cataract can take on a variety of appearances, ranging from small dots to cracked-ice, a diffuse haze, a pearl-like sheen or white streaks. The cataract might start as small dots that progress to include larger areas of the lens. The rate of progression is difficult to predict and might be very slow or very fast.

General Information

The conjunctiva is the pink tissue that lines the inner surface of the eyelids and covers the white portion of the eyeball (sclera).  It is a protective layer that contains special glands whose secretions help maintain normal eye health.

Conjunctivitis is a condition where the conjunctiva becomes reddened, congested, and painful. It may occur in one or both eyes, depending upon the cause. Causes of conjunctivitis include foreign matter, chemicals, bacteria, viruses, polluted water, or smoke. Other causes may be due to birth defect, serious internal diseases, and allergic reactions.

The cornea is the transparent, domed front part of the eye that acts to protect the inside of the eye and maintain ocular integrity while allowing light to enter the eye to allow vision.. The normal cornea is composed of several layers. An outer layer of epithelial cells lines the surface and protects the rest of the cornea. The thicker middle layer is called the stroma and contains multiple supportive cells, collagen fibers and nerve fibers. The inner lining is called the endothelial layer and it functions to help keep maintain corneal clarity. A corneal ulcer is a break in the outer epithelial layer of the cornea. Although initially painful, uncomplicated ulcers should heal with appropriate therapy in three to four days.

Distichiasis is an abnormal condition in which extra eyelashes appear along the lid margin(s) where ordinarily they should not grow. This condition is genetically inherited, but prolonged eye irritation may also cause the unwanted lashes to appear.

Trichiasis is a similar eyelash condition in which eyelashes grow from normal areas other than the eyelid margin and are misdirected toward the eyeball or the cornea.