Symptoms & Treatment of Feline Glaucoma: Comprehensive

Causes of Glaucoma in Cats

Normal cats have an intraocular pressure (IOP) ranging from 2 to 3.6 kPa, which is relatively stable. This stability is maintained as the aqueous humor produced by the ciliary body behind the iris flows through the pupil to the trabecular meshwork, ensuring a constant balance between production and drainage.

Congenital glaucoma occurs due to developmental defects during embryonic stages. Abnormalities in the angle structure or the presence of residual embryonic tissue can block the drainage pathway, leading to the accumulation of aqueous humor and an increase in IOP.

Secondary glaucoma, on the other hand, is caused by other eye diseases that obstruct the aqueous humor circulation. This can result in a buildup of fluid, commonly seen in conditions such as eye inflammation, tumors, eye injuries, lens subluxation, or displacement.

Symptoms of Cat Glaucoma

Chronic glaucoma often leads to conditions like a "bubbly" eye, lens dislocation, cataracts, and optic nerve atrophy. The cornea may appear cloudy, the eye may swell, and the cat might struggle to blink or close its eyes, leading to exposure keratitis. Other symptoms include conjunctival edema, increased reflexes, and optic nerve atrophy.

Acute glaucoma presents with symptoms like watery eye discharge, redness, cloudiness, excessive tearing, and potential pupillary dilation. The aqueous humor may flicker. Additionally, the progression of the disease can cause corneal ulcers, eye infections, corneal scarring, vascularization, mineral deposits, retinal detachment, dry eye, and more.

Treatment for Cat Glaucoma

Acute glaucoma can be treated with intravenous administration of hypertonic agents, such as mannitol, along with oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors like acetazolamide or dichlorphenamide to effectively lower the IOP. In addition, oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors can be used.

Glaucoma requires ongoing management with oral medications or topical treatments to maintain normal IOP. Regular monitoring of the IOP, typically every three months, is crucial to ensure the pet remains within a healthy range. It's important to note that vision loss caused by glaucoma in pets is irreversible. Often, pet owners may not notice any vision loss until the cat is already blind, as early signs can be subtle.