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Eye Diseases

Bartonella henselae Infection - "Cat Scratch Disease"

What is Bartonella?
Bartonella is a bacteria that adheres to and penetrates red blood cells and capillary walls. It can travel throughout your pet’s body and induce inflammatory reactions in many tissues. These tissues can include oral and respiratory mucosa, ocular tissues, the gastro-intestinal tissues, the skin and other organs such as the liver, spleen and lymph nodes.

Cataracts

What are Cataracts?
A cataract is a change in the clear lens tissue resulting in a cloudiness or opacity that diffuses or reflects light. This prevents the normal image of light from reaching the retina and thus creates a visual deficit. Cataracts form in different ways from a small dot to a diffuse white haze.

Corneal Dystrophies

What is a Corneal Dystrophy?
Corneal Dystrophies are opacities that develop with in the stromal region of the cornea. They are a primary, bilateral, inherited condition that has no apparent inflammation or related systemic disease. Their initial appearance is a white or silver metallic oval to round central paracentral opacity.

Eyelid Disorders

The eyelid plays a major role in maintaining the integrity of the eye. There are many conditions that affect the eyelids that must be properly diagnosed and treated to assure the health of the eye.

Feline Herpes Virus (FHV)

What is the Feline Herpes Virus (FHV)?
The feline herpes virus most commonly infects kittens and causes sneezing, ocular and nasal discharge with a reluctance to eat and play.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)

What is FIV?
Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a virus that affects the immune system in cats by damaging the white blood cells. This causes a gradual decrease in the cat’s immune function. The immune system is important in fighting infections, so FIV infected cats are at greater risk of disease and infection from other viruses, bacteria and organisms. Since this disease is species specific, it cannot be transmitted to people.

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)

What is FIP?
FIP is a viral disease in cats caused by feline coronavirus. It can affect many systems of the body and is almost always fatal. Infection with coronavirus in cats is not uncommon and usually does not cause any problems. Occasionally the virus mutates and replicates in the cat’s cells. This mutation is the cause of FIP.

Feline Leukemia Virus (FELV)

What is FELV?
Feline leukemia virus (FELV) is a viral disease in cats that spreads throughout the bloodstream where it continuously replicates itself. FELV can cause leukemia, cancers and immunodeficiency. It is a species specific virus, which means it cannot be transmitted to people.

Glaucoma

What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is an increase in the intraocular pressure (IOP) in the eye. If left unchecked it will do permanent damage to the inner structure of the eye and eventually result in blindness.

Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca — "Dry Eye"

What is keratoconjunctivitis sicca?
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) or "dry eye" is the failure of the tear glands to produce enough liquid tears to keep the eye moist and healthy.

Nictitans Gland Prolapse — "Cherry Eye"

What is Nictitans Gland Prolapse?
A Nictitans Gland Prolapse is an abnormal "flipping out" of the tear gland located behind the third eyelid (Nictitans). This tear gland is responsible for about 1/3 of the tears produced in the eye.

Non-Healing Corneal Ulcer (Indolent ulcer)

What is a non-healing corneal ulcer?
Non-healing corneal ulcers are superficial abrasions on the surface of the eye that fail to heal after 7-10 days. These ulcers are very common in dogs with prominent eyes, such as Boxers, Shih Tzus, Boston Terriers and Lhasa Apsos.

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

What is Progressive Retinal Atrophy?
Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) is an inherited disease of the retina. The retina is the photosensitive tissue in the back of the eye that senses light, similar to the film in a camera. This disease initially causes night blindness that eventually progresses to total blindness.

S.A.R.D.S.

What is S.A.R.D.S.?
S.A.R.D.S. is an acronym for sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome. S.A.R.D.S. is an ocular disease in dogs that is characterized by a sudden onset of blindness. The vision loss occurs over a period of a few hours to days.

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Bartonella henselae Infection - "Cat Scratch Disease"

Cataracts

Corneal Dystrophies

Eyelid Disorders

Feline Herpes Virus (FHV)

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)

Feline Leukemia Virus (FELV)

Glaucoma

Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca — "Dry Eye"

Nictitans Gland Prolapse — "Cherry Eye"

Non-Healing Corneal Ulcer (Indolent ulcer)

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

S.A.R.D.S.