What are the treatments for glaucoma in dogs?
Glaucoma is characterized by abnormally high pressure in the eye, resulting in possible vision loss. Medical and surgical treatments are available to dogs with glaucoma.Goal of TreatmentThe foremost goal is to treat or remedy the cause of vision impairment, decreasing eye pressure and salvaging vision.Medical TreatmentTopical medications (eye drops) and pills or injections may be administered.Surgical TreatmentSurgery destroys the area in the eye that produces aqueous humor (the fluid that, in a glaucoma eye, drains improperly and causes high pressure). This can be accomplished by freezing (cryotherapy), laser therapy or inserting tubing with a valve into the eye to bypass the drainage area.Advanced TreatmentIf glaucoma has not responded to treatment, causes pain or distress in the dog, or has led to blindness, the affected eye can be surgically removed (enucleation).Choosing a TreatmentGlaucoma requires swift and careful treatment to prevent blindness.
