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Glaucoma - yes, Basset Hounds are extremely
susceptable |
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Can it be treated?
Since glaucoma occurs because
fluid is not draining from the eye fast enough, the
logical treatment is to open up the drain.
Unfortunately, opening the drain and keeping it open is
difficult. Therefore, many glaucoma therapies are also
aimed at decreasing fluid production by the eye.
GLAUCOMA IS AN EXPENSIVE LIFETIME DISEASE TO TREAT,
ESPECIALLY PRIMARY GLAUCOMA.
• Medical Therapy. There are several
different types of expensive eye drops and pills that
help decrease fluid production or increase fluid
drainage from the eye. While these medications are
helpful in animals, they usually do not control glaucoma
longterm. Consequently, they are used mostly to help
prevent or delay the onset of glaucoma in the remaining
visual eye, and as temporary treatment until surgery can
be performed in the affected eye.
• Surgical Therapy. The type of
surgical procedures available for glaucoma depends upon
whether the eye still has the potential for vision. For
visual eyes, intraocular pressure can be reduced by
performing a cycloablation procedure and a drainage
implant procedure. For permanently blind eyes, the eye
can be removed (enucleated) with the option of placing a
sterile prosthetic ball implant in the eye socket prior
to skin closure, an implant placed inside the eye giving
the pet a partially artificial eye, or an injection of a
drug into the eye that kills the fluid-producing cells
and reduces the pressure.
(None of this information is designed to be a substitute for
veterinary care!)
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What is it?
Glaucoma is increased pressure within the eye. Cells inside the
eye produce a clear fluid ("aqueous humor") that maintains the
shape of the eye and nourishes the tissues inside the eye. The
balance of fluid production and drainage is responsible for
maintaining normal pressure within the eye. In glaucoma, the
drain becomes clogged but the eye keeps producing fluid.
Therefore, the pressure in the eye increases. The increased
pressure in the eye actually can cause the eye to stretch and
enlarge.
There are actually two types of glaucoma; the hereditary type,
Primary Glaucoma, is primarily the type that affects the Basset
Hound. Primary Glaucoma usually begins in one eye, but almost
always eventually involves both eyes, leading to complete
blindness. It is extremely painful. This discomfort can
result in decreased activity, less desire to play, irritability,
or decreased appetite, and is often not apparent to the owner.
What are the signs?
The only way to know for sure if your pet has glaucoma is to
have the intraocular pressures measured by a veterinarian. Signs
of glaucoma can include a red or bloodshot eye and/or cloudy
cornea. The 'third eyelid' - looking like a pink membrane, may
be seen. Vision loss is also characteristic of glaucoma.
However, loss of vision in one eye is often not obvious because
animals compensate with their remaining eye. Eventually, the
increased pressure will cause the eye to stretch and become
enlarged. Unfortunately, eyes are usually permanently blind by
the time they become enlarged.
If you suspect your Basset Hound has any eye problem, he or
she needs to see a veterinarian immediately. There is a
very small window for treatment time to try to save the sight.
Any basset hound should have regular ophthalmic examinations.
Glaucoma can cause blindness in spite of our best efforts. A
high level of commitment to treatment and regular ophthalmic
examinations is required to have the best chance of preserving
vision. If your basset is diagnosed with primary glaucoma,
please notify the dog's breeder if possible, so it is no longer
spread through the lines.
If your basset has already lost one eye to Primary Glaucoma and
the other eye is at risk of developing glaucoma: The median
time until an attack occurs in the other eye is 8 months.
Prophylactic medical therapy for the remaining eye delays the
onset of glaucoma from a median of 8 months to a median of 31
months.
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