Glaucoma, or ocularhypertension, is a complicated disease. It's a group of diseases characterized by increased
intraocular pressure or increased pressure in the inner eye. It causes pain and can lead to blindness. Glaucoma is seperated
into two groups. The first group is primary glaucoma which is believed to be a condition that cannot be attributed to any
definite abnormalty within the eye. The second group is secondary glaucoma which comes from specific eye diseases.
Some of the dog breeds that are particularly affected by glaucoma are : Alaskan Malamute, American and English
Cocker Spaniel, Basset Hound, Beagle, Boston Terrier, Bouvier des Flanders, Cairn Terrier, Chihuahua, Chow Chow, Dalmatian,
Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Fox Terrier, Miniature Schnauzer, Norwegian Elkhound, Poodles, Samoyed, Siberian Husky, Welsh Springer
Spaniel.
Glaucoma can have many beginnings, but the basic mechanism is that aqueus humor, the watery fluid that fills the
aqueous compartment of the eye, is being produced at a faster rate than is being drained from the eye. That in turn, causes
the intraocular pressure to rise. Most often the problem is due to not enough drainage of aqueous humor rather than the excess
formation.
The diagnosis of glaucoma can be hard to determine due to other eye conditions that look very similar to the signs
of glaucoma. There are many characteristics of glaucoma. Alot depends upon whether it falls into the primary or secondary
groups and the length of time glaucoma is present before detection. Characteristics include :
- A rise in intraocular pressure
- pain
- cloudy surface of the eye
- insensative surface of the cornea
- narrowed distance between cornea and iris
- dilated pupil
- enlargement of the eye
- loss of sight, either totally or partially
- corneal changes due to exposure and drying of the cornea
- loss of appetite
- depression
In order to determine if your dog has glaucoma, it has to be evaluated by clinical signs and inner pressure of the eye
has to be measured. The pressure is determined by the use of an instrument called a tonometer.
The treatment of glaucoma is rarely as successful in domestic animals as in humans. The reason is that the glaucoma
is usually in a quite advanced stage when animals are taken to the veterinarian for treatment. Unfortunately, the disease
of glaucoma comes about slow and gradual with a small number, if any, of clinical signs seen early in the process, when treatment
would be most helpful. By the advance stages, when the eyeball becomes noticeably bigger and painful, it is usually past the
time to save eyesight. In many cases, medication doesn't prove successful and the affected eye must be removed by surgery.
Finally, just because a pet has glaucoma, doesn't mean they can't live a full and wonderful life. From experience,
they can still continue to be a wonderful pet they always have been. They can still continue to accept your love and love
you as faithfully as always.
