Glaucoma

Overview of how glaucoma can occur in the eye (Image Source)

Glaucoma is another condition affecting the eye that people may be somewhat familiar with because it can occur in people as well. This condition is when the pressure in the eye becomes too high. As pressure rises the eye becomes more painful and if left untreated could lead to blindness.  While there are some breeds that can inherit this condition, many times it will be secondary to something else.

 

Eyes affected by glaucoma may sometimes look red, irritated and be painful. (Image Source)

Normally the eye is constantly bathed in fluid. There is a drain like structure inside the eye that allows the fluid to be removed. If this drain is not functioning properly it can lead to fluid building up with then leads to increased pressure. In inherited conditions this could happen spontaneously. If there is another underlying condition this may happen gradually. For example, if the pet develops cataracts (as we discussed last week), any movement of the cataract could block drainage and then lead to a secondary glaucoma.

 

Special machines are used to read the pressure of the eye (Image Source)

To detect if glaucoma is present, we first need to check the ocular pressures. Depending on the machine used by your veterinarian, this may require a topical anesthetic in the eye. If the pressures are elevated medication can be started to bring the numbers down to a normal range. If this is a hereditary condition, treatment may be required for the pets entire life. However, if the underlying cause can be determined and corrected then the medication may only be temporary.  These medications can be quite costly so it is definitely worthwhile to see if any underlying conditions are present. For more information on glaucoma, you can visit the following website here.