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RECOGNISING
EMERGENCIES OF THE EYE - GLAUCOMA
First broadcast on www.provet.co.uk
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This information is provided by
Provet for educational purposes only.
You should seek the advice of your
veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the
diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet.
Pet Owners should learn to recognise
the signs that could indicate an emergency situation and seek veterinary
attention as soon as possible Acute
glaucoma is an increase in pressure within the eye and it is commonly seen in
veterinary practice. Unless this condition is treated promptly structures in
the eye can be irretrievably damaged leading to blindness. The
signs to look out for are :
- sudden onset pain
- aversion to light (called
photophobia)
- crying - tear overflow due to
increased tear production
- bloodshot eyes (due to congestion)
- grey-to-white change in the clear
surface (cornea) part of the eye (due to oedema)
- the animal does not respond when
the surface of the eye (cornea) is touched with cottonwool
- the pupil is dilated and does not
close when a bright light is shone into it.
- blindness
If you notice any of these signs
contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.
There are many causes of glaucoma
including :
- Pectinate ligament dysplasia (gionodysgenesis),
a congenital condition in which sheets of tissue obstruct the normal
drainage angle of the eye, causing an increase in intraocular pressure
late in life
- Other obstructions to the drainage
angle including :
- Neoplasia eg melanoma
- Macrophages filled with lens
debris following lens rupture
- Inflammatory cells
- Pupillary block
- Lens luxation or subluxation
- Uveitis
Updated October 2013
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