Eye Spy Trouble

Vision is an integral component of your furry friend’s overall health. Eyes are very sensitive and vital organs and are more prone to trauma and systemic disorders. Ocular problems need prompt attention as certain ocular emergencies are deemed dire if vision or the globe is to be saved. Hence, a quick consideration is required to avoid permanent damage to the eyes or vision.

Eye- Popping Truth of Proptosis (Protruded eyeball)

It is the most acute ocular emergency among all emergencies. In this condition, the eyeball is displaced from its normal position, which is often the result of trauma or injury due to accidents and fighting with other dogs. As a result of trauma, eyelid entrapment occurs behind the eye potentially reducing the vitality of the globe and may cause loss of vision. Small breeds like – Shih Tzu, Pug, Puggle, and Lhasa Apso are more prone to this condition even with the slightly higher force exerted during handling.

Prominent eye globes, large palpebral fissures, and shallow orbits are the risk factors for proptosis in these breeds. This emergency condition can only be treated surgically and thus, requires immediate veterinary attention to re-position the eye and prevent further damage to the optic nerve.

Corneal Ulcers are More Than Just an Eye Sore

A corneal ulcer is a break in the continuity of the corneal surface, that can result from trauma, foreign bodies, or infections. Your pet may remain in pain and discomfort with redness or squinting. Immediate treatment is of utmost importance to prevent further eyeball rupture. Treatment includes topical and systemic antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, or blood-derived products (serum or platelet-rich plasma) instillation. Severe cases of not responding to medical therapy may need surgical intervention.

Glaucoma – The Silent Thief of Sight

Glaucoma is a condition with increased pressure inside the eye and it directly damages the optic nerve. If left untreated, it results in potential loss of vision. It is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness in pets. Glaucomatous eyes are visible as bulged eyes in their normal orbit position, often with squinting, corneal opacity, and red painful eyes. Immediate medical attention is needed to reduce intraocular pressure and if possible, surgery to relieve pressure.

Bilateral glaucomatous eyes are more worrisome as they might be associated with some systemic problems too. Systemic hypertension, renal pathology, and systemic malignancy conditions are often associated with bilateral glaucomatous eyes. The condition is also seen concurrently with other ocular problems such as retinal detachment. Retinal detachment and glaucoma are said to be cause and sequelae to each other. In such conditions, the prognosis is usually less favourable. Immediate medical therapy for reducing eye pressure is of paramount importance to prevent the worsening of the condition.

Glaucoma treatment aims to prevent further vision loss and decrease the pain caused by eye pressure elevation. This should be always kept in mind that it is impossible to restore vision that has been lost due to glaucoma. Thus, it is advisable to get your pet treated for high ocular pressure as soon as possible to save the vision.

Certain types of glaucoma require lifelong treatment. Pet parents must understand that the disease can never be fully cured and the therapy aims is to stabilize the intraocular pressure. When medical therapy no longer gives satisfying results, surgical intervention is necessary to save the eye.

Foreign Bodies – A Shocking Sight

Foreign bodies like dirt, grass pieces, thorns, or other small particles can get trapped in the eye causing trauma to the cornea and other structures of the eye. The most common signs include – pain, pawing at the eyes, tearing, redness, and squinting. The presence of a foreign body for an extended period and continuous scratching by your pet may become the reason for corneal ulcers. The foreign body needs to be flushed out or removed by a veterinarian only, as an attempt to dislodge the foreign body by pet parents could result in worsening of the condition including eyeball rupture.

Tears, Trauma, and Lens Luxation

Lens luxation is the displacement of the lens from its normal position. It is often due to either weak zonule fibres that hold the lens in its position or in long-standing cases of cataracts. Common symptoms are – pain, cloudiness in the cornea, or redness in the eye. The persistent presence of the lens in the anterior location causes complications such as glaucoma. Hence, the condition needs to be managed by surgical removal of the lens to prevent further damage to the eye.

When Eyes Go Astray with Retinal Detachment

In retinal detachment condition, the retina becomes separated from the underlying tissue, which could occur due to trauma or any other ocular and systemic disease. Sudden loss of vision, abnormal eye movements, and dilated pupils that do not respond to light are the most common symptoms. Long-standing cases of the condition result in increased eye pressure causing glaucomatous eyes. Retinal detachment can only be managed by surgical repair, but the outcome depends on the extent of the detachment.

Don’t Turn a Blind Eye to Chemical Burns

Pets are prone to exposure to household chemicals, cleaning products, or any toxins. Common signs that you should look out for are – sudden pain, redness, tearing, and possible vision loss. In such situations, pet parents are advised to rinse the eye with saline solution or water immediately and seek emergency veterinary care with proper history sharing of the type of chemical to the veterinarian.

Prevention in Place

• Regular eye check-ups and preventing trauma can help reduce the risk of ocular emergencies in your furry friends.
• In case of suspected trauma, keep your pet calm and avoid touching the eye.
• For mild irritation or discharge, gently flush the eye with normal saline solution.
• For serious injuries, such as proptosis or a deep corneal ulcer, seek emergency veterinary care immediately.

Pet parents are advised to continuously monitor any change in the appearance of their pet’s eye such as any sudden vision loss or bulging of the eye, severe redness, cloudiness, or discharge from the eye, injury to the eye from trauma or foreign bodies, and activity of their pets like continuous squinting or pawing at the eye.

In all cases of ocular emergencies, timely treatment is crucial to preserve your pet’s sight and overall eye healthTop of Form and to prevent complications and permanent damage to the eye.

(Dr. Anuradha Nema – Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery & Radiology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Rewa, Madhya Pradesh)