Glaucoma is a rise in intraocular pressure (IOP) that damages the retinal ganglion cells and optic nerve. In cats it is usually the late result of another eye disease, it progresses quietly, and most affected cats are already blind when they reach the clinic. The exam focus is on cause (inflammation and tumors, not inherited angle closure), on the unusual cat-specific syndrome of aqueous misdirection, and on drug choice.
Key facts
Glaucoma at a glance- Species and system: cat; eye (aqueous outflow and optic nerve).
- Cause: secondary glaucoma makes up 95 to 98% of feline cases (McLellan and Miller). Uveitis is the leading antecedent disease, then intraocular neoplasia (diffuse iris melanoma, lymphoma), trauma and hyphema.
- Classic presentation: an older cat with a slowly enlarging, cloudy or dilated-pupil eye and few signs of pain; owners often notice only vision loss.
- Anatomy: over 97% of aqueous leaves by the conventional (trabecular) route; under 3% leaves by the uveoscleral route.
- First-line drug: topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor (dorzolamide 2%).
- Zoonotic or reportable: no.
What's inside
12 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prevention, control and public health
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 4 tables, 3 self-test questions and 6 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.