What is intraocular pressure?
The size and shape of the eye is maintained by the amount of fluid inside eyeball, as well as its pressure. Fluid pressure in the front of the eye is known as intraocular pressure (IOP). The fluid inside the eye is constantly produced using ciliary (ciliary) body.
Intraocular fluid contains nutrients and oxygen, which are necessary structures inside the eye. Excess fluid in the eye constantly drains between the cornea and the iris. This area is called the iris-corneal angle. Intraocular pressure remains constant until production and fluid absorption or drainage are equal.
What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a disease characterized by an increase in IOP. It measured with a device called a tonometer.
Glaucoma is caused by insufficient removal of the intraocular fluid, not its production. Glaucoma may be classified as primary or secondary.
Primary glaucoma is caused by an increase in intraocular pressure in healthy eye. Some breeds are more likely to develop diseases than others. This is due to inherited anatomical abnormalities of the iris-corneal angle. For example, if the angle is narrow, it can block the drainage of fluid from the eye, which leads to an increase in IOP. Secondary glaucoma develops due to illness or injury to the eye.
The most common causes of glaucoma in dogs and cats are:
- Uveitis (inflammation of the inside of the eye) – severe intraocular infection, which may lead to blockage drainage fluid.
- Subluxation of the lens of the eye.
- Tumors of the eye that lead to physical blockage drainage fluid.
- Intraocular bleeding – a blood clot may also block the drainage.
- Damage to the lens of the eye that may cause inflammatory reaction leading to swelling and blockage drainage.
Species most prone to glaucoma:
- Akita
- Dalmatian
- Elkhound
- Alaskan malamute
- Husky
- English cocker spaniel
- American cocker spaniel
- English springer spaniel
- Poodle
- Samoyed
- Basset hound
- Shar pei
- Beagle
- Giant Schnauzer
- Shih tzu
- Boston terrier
- German dog
- Siberian Husky
- Greyhound
- Fox Terrier – Smooth
- Fox Terrier – Wire
- Bullmastiff
- Italian Greyhound
- Welsh Springer Spaniel
- Chow chow
- Dwarf pincher
- Cocker Spaniel
- Miniature schnauzer
Symptoms and diagnosis of glaucoma
The most common clinical symptoms noted Owners of animals are:
- Eye pain. The dog may partially close its eyes or rub it. his.
- Watery discharge from the eyes.
- Obvious swelling of the eye and bulging eyeball. Protein the shell of the eye (sclera) looks red and bloodshot.
- Turbid cornea of the eye.
- Blindness, which can occur very quickly if high IOP not reduced.
All these symptoms can occur suddenly with an attack of acute glaucoma. In case of chronic glaucoma, they develop more slow. Diagnosis of glaucoma depends on accurate measurement of IOP and eye examinations using special tools. Sometimes A call to a veterinary ophthalmologist is required.
Glaucoma Treatment
To reduce the risk of permanent damage to the eye, it’s important how IOP can be reduced faster. It is equally important to determine and take control of the underlying disease that may be responsible for glaucoma.
Analgesics are usually prescribed to reduce pain and discomfort, associated with glaucoma. To reduce IOP, drugs are used, which reduce the production of intraocular fluid and contribute to its drainage.
The use of drugs in severe cases should combined with surgery. Veterinary ophthalmologists use various surgical methods to reduce intraocular pressure. In some cases, if blindness develops or when the eye cannot be operated on; eye removal may be recommended (enucleation) to relieve pain and discomfort.
