Glaucoma is an increase in the pressure in the eye. Cells inside the eye produce a clear fluid-aqueous humor- which maintains the shape of the eye and nourishes the tissues. When the drainage becomes clogged, but the eye continues to produce fluid, it increases the pressure. Glaucoma can be a hereditary condtion or the result of other illnesses. If glaucoma is not treated in kittens, it will cause serious damage to the eye and blindness.
Symptoms
The kitten's pupil will be enlarged and fail to dilate properly in light--usually the first sign of glaucoma. Other symptoms include red, tearing, squinty and painful eyes, cloudy corneas, and vision loss.
Primary Gluacoma
Primary glaucoma is an inherited condition and is very rare in kittens. The problem can be structural or one that involves the function of the drainage area of the eye. Glaucoma of this type usually begins in one eye, then moves to the other and causes a complete loss of the kitten's vision.
Secondary Glaucoma
Secondary glaucoma is a result of other disorders within the eye, which interrupt the usual flow of aqueous humor or disrupt the drainage of this fluid from the eye. Common causes are uveitis-inflammation inside the eye, advanced cataracts, cancer in the eye, lens subluxation or luxation and chronic retinal detachment. This is the more common form of glaucoma in kittens.
Medical Therapy
When inflammation of the eye is the underlying cause of glaucoma, medical therapy is used. Medications are given to decrease the production of fluid and to control the inflammation. They delay the onset of glaucoma in the kitten's other eye. Glaucoma medications include topical drops and systemic pills.
Surgical Therapy
When medications have been unsuccessful at decreasing the pressure in the eye, surgical therapy is used. Such surgical therapy involves killing the area within the eye that produces aqueous humor by freezing or laser therapy. When a tumor is present in the eye causing glaucoma, the kitten's eye is usually removed.
Diagnosis & Treatment
A complete exam of your kitten by a veterinarian is needed to determine whether it is primary or secondary glaucoma and the extent of the damage to the optic nerve and retina. Specific tests include tonometry-measures pressure inside the eye, gonioscopy-evaluates the drainage pathway, and ultrasonography if the eye is too cloudy to otherwise be examined. The main goal of treatment is to decrease the pressure within the eye, thus preventing the kitten from going blind, and to treat any underlying causes of the glaucoma.
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