Glaucoma
Glaucoma is Lizzie’s latest problem, and not nearly as rare in cats as some of the other issues she has faced.
Glaucoma can be hereditary, but it also can be the result of other eye problems (a good reason to catch problems early).
What is glaucoma? I’m not a doctor, nor do I play one on the internet, so here’s a definition (of human glaucoma) from the Glaucoma Research Foundation. Basically, glaucoma is an umbrella name for a variety of conditions, all of which result in abnormally high pressure in the eye, and all of which can lead to blindness by destroying the optic nerve. In other words, glaucoma is a bad thing for your cat to have.
In its advanced stage, glaucoma is pretty easy to spot because of the cloudy or milky appearance. In its earlier stages, however, even a trained professional can easily miss it just by looking. A veterinary opthamologist uses a device to measure the pressure in the eye.
What to watch for? Redness, squinting, and watery eyes are early warning signs, but all of these can be symptoms of dozens of other problems.
Eyes that don’t react to light by dilating are a more advanced symptom, followed by that milky glaze and even eyes that start to bulge. Let’s try to get your cat some help before those things happen.
Glaucoma can be caused by other problems, including chronic inflammation, injury, ulcer. I don’t know if a previous problem caused Lizzie’s glaucoma, but if you’ve been reading this site you know it’s not a bad guess to think so.
So here’s some layman’s advice: If your cat has had herpes, or an injury, ulcer, distichia, tumor, etc., it’s probably a good idea to ask your vet to check for glaucoma as she ages.
Treatment can be as easy as drops or pills, but surgery can be necessary. Another good reason to catch it early if you can.
If you have a cat with glaucoma, be sure to tell us how you spotted it and how you’re treating it.