Veterinary Ophthalmology

Allergies can cause inflammation and irritation in and around the eyes for some pets. This is especially common for pets suffering from environmental and seasonal allergies (much like humans experiencing itchy eyes and runny noses during the spring). Pets may itch or rub their eyes, exacerbating the inflammation and potentially leading to infections. 

If something hits or gets stuck in a pet's eye, pain and damage can be caused. Depending on the object in question and its size, the treatment procedure can be vastly different (e.g., piece of dirt causing scratching and irritation versus shard of glass penetrating the lens).  

Your general practice vet can remove small sediments and provide drops to soothe the eye, prevent infection, and help heal any potential damage to their cornea. Meanwhile larger objects that become lodged in the eye may require surgical removal and long–term care from an eye care specialist. 

Bacterial or viral infections can lead to the development of conjunctivitis (pink eye) in pets. Infections can enter a pet’s eyes from their outside environment (e.g., in dirty soil or a puddle at the park), poor hygiene of themselves and/or the bedding they regularly sleep on or passed on from other animals or humans through direct contact. 

If pets suffer from allergies, they are at a higher risk of developing infections in the eyes due to existing inflammation, lowered immune ability, and frequent scratching. 

Autoimmune disorders can impact one or many areas of a pet's body and systems. If a pet's autoimmune disorder impacts their eyes, it means that their own immune cells are attacking parts of their eyes, causing long–term damage if not carefully managed. 

When this happens to the tear glands, it is called "dry eye". The damaged tear glands struggle to produce enough fluid to keep their eyes lubricated.  

Typically, specialized eye drops provided by a primary care veterinarian or ophthalmologist can help manage the symptoms of the disorder if the effects are localized. However, consultation with a specialist may be required if other body symptoms are involved or the pet is not responding to typical treatments. 

Cancerous masses can grow anywhere on a pet's body. The most common place growths are seen around the eyes is on the eye lid, and while it is rare that these masses are malignant, they should be checked by a veterinarian. Masses should be removed early on.  Delay in removal can lead to excessive growth of the mass and will require more in–depth surgical reconstruction of the eyelid after removal. 

Like with our own eyesight, pet's eyes go through decline as they age. Cells naturally begin to degrade over time, which slowly decreases the overall functioning of the eye.  

Once pets reach their senior years (around 7 for dogs and 10 for cats) we strongly recommend taking them to a veterinarian for eye checks at least every 6 months to monitor their eye health and provide support if decline is spotted. 

Some pets are genetically predisposed to develop an eye condition due to genes passed on by their parents. Most hereditary conditions, like glaucoma, dry eye, and cataracts tend not to be present at a pet's birth and instead develop slowly throughout their life, becoming progressively worse as they age. While not all these conditions can be cured, if they are caught early on and tended to regularly, they can be well managed without diminishing pets’ quality of life. 

Some systemic diseases can manifest in pets through problems with their eyes. Although not specifically directed at the eye itself, these conditions can still cause discomfort and damage to a pet's eyes if the root disease or infection is not adequately treated or managed. 

The most common culprits for ophthalmic manifestations in cats and dogs include: 

For pets found to have co–existing conditions, our ophthalmologists will collaborate with other field specialists, like neurologists and oncologists, to form the optimum treatment plan that meets a pet's wider health needs.