Laser Eye Surgery for Dogs.

Many of the same medical problems that involve our eyes, also affect the eyes of our canine companions. High tech advances in human ophthalmology have crossed species lines and are now being used to improve the vision of our pets.

Lasers are focused on canine eyes not for restoring 20-20 sight but to aid in the control of glaucoma. Glaucoma is the buildup of excessive fluid pressure in the eye. This pressure can very quickly damage the retina leading to irreversible blindness. The laser destroys the tissue that produces the fluid. This method causes less postoperative inflammation than traditional surgery, and this translates into higher success rates.

In the past, when tumors were seen in a dogs' eye, it was usually necessary to remove the eye. Now lasers can zap only the tumor, and protect the surrounding normal tissue.

Delivering medication to an inflamed globe was often difficult. The eye has no blood vessels within it. Now a very small device can be implanted behind the iris, the color portion of the eye that slowly releases medication, sometimes for years.

The most common reason that a dog will lose its sight is genetic. Premature retinal atrophy is such a disease. The mapping and sequencing of the canine genome has lead to the development of a genetic marker test that will identify if a pet has the potential for this malady. With careful screening and breeding, this disease has been eradicated from several previously affected dog breeds. The knowledge gained from discovering the genetic cause of this canine disease has helped human researchers find an area of the human genetic map that they had not previously realized held information for human vision disorders.

Eyesight is precious. If you believe that your pet is having difficulty seeing, has changes with the color or appearance of the eyes, see your veterinarian because it is "Your Pet…Health Matters."