It refers to a disease in which the flow and discharge of the aqueous humor (aqueous homor) are abnormal, resulting in excessive water in the anterior chamber and an increase in the intraocular pressure (IOP), ultimately causing damage to the nervous system inside the eyeball. Delayed treatment or incorrect treatment may lead to permanent blindness and long-term pain in dogs and cats. 
The causes of glaucoma are divided into primary and secondary.
Primary:Congenital or hereditary, this type of glaucoma is characterized by a simple increase in intraocular pressure in the absence of any other ocular abnormality. This type is more likely to occur in purebred dogs and often eventually develops into bilateral glaucoma. If glaucoma occurs in the first one or two generations of the same family, the chance of the disease in their offspring will be greatly increased.
Secondary: Glaucoma occurs when other eye diseases occur first, or when eye diseases occur at the same time, the intraocular pressure increases. For example, eye trauma, cataracts, lens loss, hemorrhage and pus in the anterior chamber, intraocular inflammation or tumors, etc. These diseases may affect the drainage of aqueous humor, thereby increasing intraocular pressure and causing secondary glaucoma.
Glaucoma can be divided into three stages in clinical manifestations:
Early stage: There are no obvious symptoms, the contraction reaction of the pupils is slow, and in some cases, the appearance of the conjunctiva may be congested and red.Glaucoma during this period can only be diagnosed by relying on the doctor’s experience and ophthalmic diagnostic and treatment equipment.
If glaucoma can be correctly diagnosed and treated correctly in the early stages, most patients will still have vision after treatment.
Mid-term: The patient shows symptoms of eye pain, such as increased tears or squinting, dilated pupils, severe congestion and redness of the whites of the eyes, cloudy and white corneas, slight enlargement of the eyeballs, and varying degrees of optic nerve and retinopathy. Poor vision or blindness. End stage: The eyeball is significantly enlarged with severe pain, the pupil continues to dilate and cannot be contracted, and the cornea is severely turbid. The high intraocular pressure at this time has caused the cells of the optic nerve and retina to die from ischemia and hypoxia, resulting in complete visual blindness.
The pain and general structural damage within the eyeball is irreversible and cannot be improved with medication alone.
The diagnosis of glaucoma requires professional experience and complete ophthalmic equipment. The ophthalmologist must carefully examine all the internal and external structures of the eye and use instruments to measure intraocular pressure to make a correct diagnosis. Therefore, once you suspect that your baby has glaucoma, you should immediately seek examination by a veterinarian who specializes in eye diagnosis and treatment.
#NPV #NPVHK #nonprofitveterinaryservicesassociation #veterinary #24hourshospital #Clinic #animalrights&welfare #emergency #appointment clinic #NPVHealthcare Topics #glaucoma
==================
NPV Non-Profit Veterinary Services Association 24 Hour Hospitals and Clinics
Reservations and inquiries:
2393 2070 (press 1 word)24-hour emergency department:
5931 9764WhatsApp:
9629 8860 (vaccination, medication ordering and medical appointment) 6097 0426 (online store order inquiry)website:
www.npv.org.hk