Glaucoma Flashcards
What is glaucoma?
A diverse group of diseases united by a common theme in which IOP is too high for the optic nerve to function properly resulting in the loss of some or all vision
Intraocular Pressure
- Generated by aqueous humor production and outflow normally in balance
- Elevated in glaucoma due to decreased outflow (NOT overproduction)
- Prevalence of glaucoma in dogs 1.7% in last decade (similar to 1-2% in man)
Glaucoma Diagnosis
- Signalment, history and clinical signs
- Menace responses, cotton ball tracking, and maze testing to assess vision
- PLRs and dazzle reflexes to assess visual pathway
- Ophthalmoscopy
- Tonometry (normal IOP 15-25mmHg)
- Gonioscopy (referral procedure)
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Primary glaucoma - breed related
– American Cocker Spaniel
– Basset Hound
– Chow Chow
– Shar Pei
– Boston Terrier
– Fox Terrier, Wire
– Norwegian Elkhound
– Siberian Husky
(43 breeds)
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Owner may report:
– Blepharospasm
– Nictitating membrane protrusion
– Red eye
– Cloudy eye
– Mydriasis
– Decreased vision
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Clinical Signs of Glaucoma
- Ophthalmic findings
– Red eye (episcleral injection)
– Corneal edema (blue)
– Mydriasis
– Lens subluxation/luxation
– Painful!!! (blepharospasm)
– Buphthalmia
– Retinal and optic nerve changes
– Decreased vision
Diagnosis
- Tonometry (normal 15-25mmHg)
- Ideally both eyes should have roughly the same IOP (>5mmHg (or > 20%) difference should make you wonder why…)
- Gonioscopy
- Use of a special lens to visualize the iridocorneal angle
IOP can be affected by…
- Normal diurnal variation (highest in the morning)
- 2-4 mmHg in normal dog
- Sedatives, tranquilizers, and anesthetic drugs can lower IOP (ketamine may increase IOP)
- Patient cooperation
- Minimize pressure applied on eyelids and neck!
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Primary Glaucoma
- Breed related
- Always bilateral
- “Good” eye will be lost in median of 8 months
- With prophylactic therapy, median time to onset of glaucoma is 31 months
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Secondary Glaucoma Signs/Causes
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- *Acute vs. Chronic?**
- *▪ Acute**
– Less than 24 hours old
– Potential for vision?
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- *Acute vs. Chronic?**
- *• Chronic**
– >>24 hours old
– Buphthalmia (big, blue…..
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Glaucoma Therapy
- goals
- control of intraocular pressure
- Goals
– Save or regain, and maintain vision
– Achieve and maintain comfort - Control of intraocular pressure
– Target “safe” level
– Avoid progressive optic nerve and retinal damage with associated visual deficits
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Therapy for Acute Glaucoma
Treat aggressively if chance for vision!!!
Referral
- Emergency treatment
– Topical prostaglandin analogues - Latanoprost 0.005% (Xalatan®)
- Travaprost 0.004% ( Travatan ®)
– Topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitors - Dorzolamide 2% ( Trusopt ®)
- Brinzolamide 1% ( Azopt ®)
– Beta blocker - Timolol 0.5 & 0.25%
- Betaxolol 0.5%
- Hyperosmotic agents
– Dehydrate vitreous
– Last about 6-10 hours
– IV mannitol - Dosed at 1-2 grams/kg
- Administered slowly over 20 30 minutes
– Glycerin - 1-2 g/kg orally
- May produce emesis
– Withhold water for 4 hours - Contraindications
– Renal disease
– Cardiovascular disease
– Dehydration
– Diabetes (glycerin)
– Other debilitating disease - Ophthalmologist referral
- Maintenance therapy
– Latanoprost 0.005% q12 to 24 hr
– Dorzolamide 2% q6 to 8 hr
– Timolol 0.5% q12 hr - **Treat the “normal
– Timolol 0.5% q12 hr - Frequent IOP checks for monitoring of BOTH eyes
– 1 day, 3-5 days, then weekly, monthly, q2 to 3 months
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Chronic Glaucoma
- signs
- treatment
- Irreversibly blind (duration >72 hours)
- Buphthalmic (big, blue…blind)
– Except puppies - Absent dazzle reflex
- Absent consensual PLR to fellow eye
- Palliative procedure
– Enucleation
– Evisceration
– Chemical ablation