Treatment for Glaucoma in Dogs

Once your veterinarian has positively diagnosed your dog for glaucoma, they will begin to prescribe a treatment procedure. Since glaucoma is a relatively progressive condition, the type of treatment your veterinarian recommends is largely dependent on how much the glaucoma has progressed.

In severe cases of glaucoma, it may not be possible for your dog to be treated by any conventional means. The damage done to a dog's eye in glaucoma is relatively irreversable, meaning that your dog will always have a reduction in their eyesight quality. This is one of the main reasons why it is so important to recognize the symptoms of glaucoma before your dog loses their eyesight completely.

Topical Treatments

There are several different types of eye drops that a veterinarian may prescribe for treatment of glaucoma in dogs. However, the problem with topical treatments, is that they are generally not very effective. If you dog is still in the early stages of glaucoma, a topical medication may be used as an initial treatment. However, it is a generally accepted fact among veterinarians that treating glaucoma in dogs is considerably more difficult than treating glaucoma in humans.

Surgery

In some cases, surgery on the eye may be necessary in order to relieve the intraocular pressure associated with glaucoma. The main drawback of this treatment option is that it tends to be relatively expensive, and may or may not be effective. However, in cases of severe glaucoma, it may be the only option in order to halt further damage to your dog's eyesight. It is important to consult with your veterinarian, to fully understand the risks involved in using surgery as a treatment for glaucoma.

Cyclophotocoagulation

This is a more specific type of surgery, that is only performed using a small laser. This laser targets the cells that produce aqueous humor, the substance that fills the inside of a dog's cornea. In glaucoma, this fluid is over-produced, or is not removed in a proper ratio in order to maintain normal pressure levels. To relieve the intraocular pressure associated with glaucoma, this surgical procedure may be used. It destroys some of the cells that produce aqueous humor, which then may relieve the pressure of the fluid caused by glaucoma.

Cycloelectrolysis

This procedure is similar to Cyclophotocoagulation, though does not use a laser to targed specific cells. Instead, this surgical procedure uses the unique chemical reaction that is produced by a direct current (at low frequency) to destroy the cells in the eye's ciliary body. This also decreases the production of aqueous humor, which relieves the intraocular pressure associated with glaucoma.