Eye Care for Animals - The Leaders in Veterinary Ophthalmology

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of diseases associated with increased pressure in the eye, resulting in ocular pain and blindness.

In general, there are two broad categories of glaucoma: primary and secondary. Primary glaucoma occurs without any previous ocular disease, and is commonly seen in our canine patients. It is known to occur within certain purebred breeds of dogs and is inherited. Primary glaucoma can be further divided into open-angle and closed angle. Open angle glaucoma is common in human patients but is rare in veterinary patients. More commonly, our canine patients present with closed angle glaucoma. This type of glaucoma is associated with underdevelopment of the normal drainage system (called goniodysgensis). Primary glaucoma in dogs is a bilateral disease, and the other eye is at risk of developing glaucoma as well. Secondary glaucoma is a consequence of other ocular disease, such as ocular inflammation, lens luxation, and ocular trauma.

Diagnosis of Glaucoma

Common clinical signs of glaucoma include redness of the white part of the eye, clouding of the cornea, dilation of the pupil, squinting and discharge. In the later stages, the eye may become enlarged. The diagnosis of glaucoma is based on history, clinical signs, tonometry (to estimate intraocular pressure), and gonioscopy (to evaluate the drainage angle with a special lens).

Treatment of Glaucoma

Treatments are broadly divided into those aimed at restoring or maintaining vision, versus surgeries of comfort. Topical and systemic medications are commonly used; however, in the vast majority of cases, medical management alone is often unsuccessful in veterinary patients long-term. Although medical management can temporarily control the intraocular pressure, surgical intervention is often a necessary next step.

Surgeries for glaucoma are divided into vision saving procedures and surgeries of comfort. Vision saving procedures are an option for patients with glaucoma that still have vision. They include placement of a valve to shunt fluid outside of the eye (goniovalve), lasering the fluid-producing tissues within the eye (endocyclophotocoagulation) and removal of the lens (phacoemulsification).

Once an animal has lost vision due to glaucoma, a surgery of comfort is elected to address the ocular pain. Surgeries of comfort include removal of the painful eye (enucleation), placing an implant within the eye (intrasceral prosthesis), freezing the eye (cyclocryothermy), and an intra-ocular injection (ciliary body ablation).

Prognosis

Unfortunately, glaucoma remains a leading cause of blindness in animals. The goal of the veterinary ophthalmologist in treating the patient with glaucoma is to restore vision where possible and to maintain a cosmetic, pain-free eye. An Eye Care for Animals veterinarian can be reached at all times if you are concerned that your pet is having a pressure spike. In many cases of glaucoma, timing is essential to preserve vision.

If you have any questions about or suspicions of glaucoma in your pet, please call Eye Care for Animals.