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Dog glaucoma

The eye constantly produces a liquid which keeps it under pressure, and this liquid is evacuated through a filter located at the base of the iris. When the drainage is blocked, pressure rises inside the eye: this is glaucoma. This pressure...

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Definition Signs Causes Diagnosis Treatment Prevention Complications When to see a vet Prognosis FAQ Sources Affected species

What is it?

This pressure crushes the optic nerve and the retina. Destroyed cells do not grow back.

This is one of the most serious emergencies in dog ophthalmology: vision can be lost permanently within a few hours. A red, painful eye, especially with a dilated pupil that no longer responds to light, should be shown to a veterinarian immediately, day or night.

Key point

A red, painful eye with a dilated pupil may be glaucoma: vision is lost within a few hours. This is an immediate veterinary emergency, at any time.

Commonly observed signs

These signs are neither exhaustive nor specific. Only a veterinarian can establish a diagnosis.

Related signs — each one links to its page:

Red eyes Pain Loss of sight Discharge from the eyes Reduction

Red eye, with marked and swollen vessels on the white of the eye.

Dilated pupil which no longer narrows when the eye is illuminated: this is a major warning sign.

Intense pain, often expressed by despondency, refusal to play, lowered head or discomfort when touched, rather than by screaming.

Diffuse bluish veil on the cornea, which gives the eye a cloudy appearance.

The animal bumps into things, hesitates in the dark, no longer follows objects with its gaze on the affected side.

In advanced stages, one eye may enlarge and become visibly larger than the other.

Tearing, half-closed eyelids, sensitivity to light.

When to consult without delay

This list does not replace veterinary advice. It gathers situations that justify a prompt consultation.

Causes and risk factors

In the primary form, the evacuation filter is poorly formed from birth and becomes blocked with age. It is hereditary in several breeds and often affects the second eye in the months that follow.

In the secondary form, the evacuation is obstructed by another eye disease: internal inflammation, dislocation of the lens, bleeding in the eye, tumor, or sequelae of cataract surgery.

Trauma to the eye can also trigger a build-up of pressure.

Several breeds, including cocker spaniels, beagles, Nordic dogs and various terriers, are predisposed to the primary form.

Glaucoma in one eye is a major risk factor for the other eye.

Any chronic inflammation inside the eye, dislocation of the lens, or a history of eye surgery increases the risk.

Middle to advanced age is most affected for the primary form.

Diagnosis and care

Diagnosis is the veterinarian's responsibility, based on clinical examination and laboratory tests. Care is decided case by case.

The veterinarian measures the pressure inside the eye with a device that touches the cornea. The measurement is quick and is done on an awake dog.

He compares the two eyes, tests the pupil's reflex to light and evaluates what the dog still perceives.

He examines the back of the eye to assess the condition of the optic nerve and the retina, and applies a dye if the cornea appears damaged.

He systematically looks for a secondary cause, because the treatment depends on it.

Once the diagnosis has been made, the pressure must be rechecked regularly, including on the eye which appears healthy.

Treatment

The urgency is to lower the pressure, with medications that reduce the production of fluid or facilitate its evacuation. The sooner the pressure is lowered, the greater the chance of retaining vision.

Hospitalization for a few hours is common to monitor response to treatment.

When a secondary cause is identified, it is treated in parallel: otherwise, the pressure rises.

The basic treatments are then taken for life, with regular pressure checks.

When vision is permanently lost and the eye remains painful, surgical solutions exist to eliminate the pain; it is a gesture of comfort, often the best choice for the animal.

In breeds with primary glaucoma, preventive treatment of the still healthy eye is often instituted.

Treatment depends on the cause and the animal's condition: it must be determined by a veterinarian. No self-medication.

Prevention

In predisposed breeds, have eye pressure checked during routine visits, especially in middle age.

Do not breed a dog with primary glaucoma.

If one eye has already developed glaucoma, monitoring the other eye is not optional: this is where the remaining vision comes into play.

Treat any eye inflammation or injury promptly, which can trigger secondary glaucoma.

Possible complications

Permanent loss of vision in the affected eye, sometimes within a few hours.

Involvement of the second eye, common in the primary form.

Increase in volume of the eye, with stretching then ulceration of the cornea.

Chronic disabling pain when pressure is not controlled.

When to see a veterinarian

Red and painful eye, especially if the pupil is dilated and no longer reacts to light: immediate emergency, do not postpone until the next day.

Your dog bumps into things, hesitates in the house or in the dark.

One eye appears larger or cloudier than the other.

He is dejected, no longer wants to play and has difficulty handling people touching his head.

Your dog has already had glaucoma on one eye and the second is turning red: consult without delay.

Prognosis

The visual prognosis depends almost entirely on the delay: high pressure maintained for several hours permanently destroys cells of the optic nerve.

With very early treatment, part of the vision can be preserved, but primary glaucoma remains a progressive disease that requires lifelong monitoring.

Even when vision is lost, an eye made comfortable allows the dog to live normally: dogs adapt remarkably well to the loss of an eye, and even blindness, in a stable environment.

Frequently asked questions

How do you know if it's glaucoma or simple conjunctivitis?

You can't tell with the naked eye, and that's precisely the danger. Conjunctivitis bothers but does not make the animal depressed and does not dilate the pupil. When faced with a red and painful eye, only measuring the pressure can resolve it.

Can lost vision return?

No. Optic nerve cells destroyed by pressure do not regenerate. The whole point of treatment is to save what remains and protect the other eye.

Will the other eye be affected?

In the hereditary form, the risk is high in the months that follow. This is why preventive treatment and regular pressure checks are offered to the still healthy eye.

Can my dog live with only one eye?

Yes, very good. Dogs find their way around a lot by smell and hearing. A blind but painless, or removed, eye is better than a permanently painful eye.