Ophthalmology

    When you visit your family doctor for a regular checkup, he or she probably looked at your eyes with a light or asked you to read an eye chart. But if you need glasses or have special concerns, you most likely made an appointment to visit an eye doctor. The same is true for your pet. Your family veterinarian will look at your pet’s eyes during yearly checkups…

Nearly 3 million Americans and more than 60 million people worldwide have glaucoma. As the second leading cause of blindness in humans, it makes sense that there is a focus every year on raising awareness about this “sneak thief of sight” with National Glaucoma Month. As we’re having conversations about this condition in humans, let’s talk about glaucoma in your pet.   Glaucoma occurs in nearly 2% of dogs in North America,…

Everything You Wanted to Know About Tear Stains in Dogs   Pet owners often seek advice on how to treat the messy, frustrating problem of tear staining in dogs. If you research online the phrase “tear staining”, you will find numerous different products, ideas, and suggestions that claim to fix or prevent the staining. The fact that there are so many products available means that there is not ONE magic treatment or approach that will…

The uvea is the major blood supply to the eye and is comprised of the iris, ciliary body, and choroid. These major structures of the eye are very sensitive and perform numerous functions required for ocular homeostasis and vision. Uveitis is inflammation of these structures and results in pain, cloudiness to the intraocular fluids, and in severe cases, blindness. Uveitis can occur for many reasons, and depending on what the ophthalmologist finds on your pet’s…

What are Cataracts in Dogs? A cataract is an opacity or “clouding” of the eye lens. Cataracts in dogs impair vision by preventing light from focusing properly on the retina, resulting in poor vision or blindness. Cataracts can affect dogs of all ages. They are usually inherited, with some breeds being more susceptible than others. More susceptible breeds include Poodles, Bichon Frise, Retrievers, Terriers, and Cocker Spaniels. Other causes of cataracts are age and diabetes.