Help Your Beloved Pet See Beyond the Blur

All living things, not just humans, depend on their eyesight for survival. When you look at your pet, do you ever wonder what it sees of the world? Your pet’s eyes play a crucial role in their daily existence. It aids their vision and allows them to make sense of what they see. In addition, it controls the size of the pupils, allowing them to see properly whether it’s day or night.  

Do they have the same or superior vision than us? Cat eyes, for instance, don’t quite seem like human eyes in terms of size, shape, pupil orientation, or internal anatomy. As a result of these distinctions, cat vision and human eyesight are distinct.  

Cataracts are the most common cause of blindness in humans. Rare as they may be pets can experience a range of eye issues that could compromise their sight or health. You may be dealing with a canine with noticeable cloudiness and haziness in its eyes. Although unlike in dogs, cataracts in cats are uncommon, the disease is nevertheless dangerous since it can cause blindness if left untreated. Fortunately, cataracts in cats as well as dogs can often be effectively cured.  

If you’re a worried parent of a pet with vision problems, this article may put your mind at ease as the Sirwiss network of veterinarians provides a full explanation of cataract in cats and dogs. Read on to find out more.

 

What Is a Cataract? 

Cataracts are conditions that impair the lens of the eye. As light goes through the eye, the lens helps to concentrate the image, allowing us to see. If this small structure gets clouded as a result of a cataract, it will no longer be able to focus light, resulting in blurry vision. The lens is largely made up of proteins and water. Changes in the proteins and lens fibers cause clouding of the lens.  

Cataracts in Cats 

Cataracts are less common in cats than in humans or dogs. Diabetes can cause cataracts in people and dogs, but not in cats. They are also more common in older cats, and Burmese and Himalayan cats are predisposed genetically to the illness. Cats of various ages and breeds might, however, be impacted. 

Causes of Cataracts in Cats 

Cataracts in cats can develop due to: 

1. Poor nutrition in early life 

2. Genetics 

3. Trauma 

4. Metabolic disorders 

5. Radiation 

6. Inflammation (as with cat cancer, glaucoma, trauma, autoimmune diseases or infection) 

7. Lens dislocation (typically after trauma or inflammation) 

8. Cats may also develop cataracts that are related to other diseases such as diabetes or hypertension 

Uveitis is an inflammation of the eye that can be caused by infectious diseases like feline immunodeficiency virus, feline leukemia virus, feline infectious peritonitis, and toxoplasmosis. Uveitis can lead to cataracts. However, it’s not always possible to identify the cause of cataracts. 

Signs & Symptoms of Cataracts in Cats 

Cats are very good at hiding pain and changes in their vision, so it’s important to look for signs of cataracts like:  

1. Hazy or cloudy appearance of one or both eyes 

2. Behavioral changes (hiding, reduced activity, bumping into familiar objects, difficulty finding their food bowl and/or litter box) 

3. Disorientation 

4. Tentative or cautious behavior in unfamiliar places or around stairs 

Cataracts themselves are painless, but the conditions that bring them on can be rather unpleasant. As a result, a cat with cataracts may squint and exhibit symptoms such as eye discharge, redness, and edema.  

Diagnosis of Feline Cataracts 

Your veterinarian may perform eye exams and pressure tests to identify cataracts. While general practitioners can identify most cataracts, they may send you to a specialist, such as veterinary ophthalmologists, who can perform more advanced tests.  

 
These tests may include: 

• Advanced eye imaging (including ultrasound) 
• Eye pressure testing 
• Blood tests for metabolic diseases and infections 

If your veterinarian detects or diagnoses cataracts in your cat, he or she may advise you to see a board-certified Veterinary Ophthalmologist for further testing and treatment.  
 

Types of Feline Cataracts 

Cataracts are grouped by how bad they are and how much of the lens is affected. According to the experts, these are the groups: 

1. Incipient cataracts: Affect less than 15% of the lens 

2. Immature cataracts: Affect 15% to 100% of the lens; light can still pass through 

3. Mature cataracts: Affect the entire lens; light passage is impeded 

To choose the best treatment for cats with cataracts, it is important to know what stage they are in. 

Treating Feline Cataracts  

The best way to treat cataracts is to find out what causes them and do something about it. Once this is known, clear steps can be taken to delay or stop blindness caused by cataracts. 

Here are a few common methods to do it: 
 

1. Drugs: Steroids and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can reduce eye inflammation. 

2. Surgery to remove the eye (enucleation): Depending on the underlying cause, removal of the eye may be advised, especially if the underlying cause of the cataract causes swelling and pain. 

3. Surgery to remove the cataract: Another common treatment is replacing the lens of the eye through cataract surgery, performed by a veterinary ophthalmologist. 

Cat Cataract Surgery  

Cats that are candidates for this procedure should have their natural lenses surgically removed and replaced with prosthetic lenses. There are essential things you may do to aid your cat’s recovery from cataract surgery. Topical eye medication may be required for several months following surgery. Complications like as swelling and bleeding necessitate keeping your cat in a small environment for at least three weeks. An animal cone is also essential. 

What are Cataracts in Dogs? 

Cataracts in dogs can be better comprehended with an understanding of canine eye anatomy and physiology. The lens’s job is to concentrate light onto the retina, where it may be properly processed before being sent via the optic nerve to the brain. Water and proteins make up the lens. When the proteins start clumping together, producing clouds, cataracts arise. The lens clouding spreads as additional proteins clump together. The freshly created protein complexes prevent light from penetrating the lens and reaching the retina.  

This is why a dog with cataracts may have trouble seeing clearly. Cataracts do not prevent a dog from seeing, but they likely seem as murky blurs to the animal. More accurately, seeing through a cataract-affected lens is akin to peering through a “heavily frosted window.”  

What Causes Cataracts in Dogs? 

The majority of canine cataracts are caused by a genetic predisposition. Cataracts can be caused by diabetes, but there are many other diseases and circumstances that increase the likelihood of developing them.  

The most common triggers for canine cataracts include the following: 

1. Genetics (hereditary cataracts) 

2. Eye injuries or trauma 

3. Pre-existing eye conditions 

• Glaucoma 
• Lens luxation 
• Infections (uveitis) 
• Progressive retinal atrophy  

4. Diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes) 

5. Nutritional disorders or deficiencies 

6. Exposure to radiation, UV lights, and toxic chemicals 

7. Birth defects 

8. Cancer therapy treatments 

It is crucial to identify the underlying cause of cataracts in dogs, as this impacts the progression of the condition. For instance, senile cataracts develop more slowly, whereas diabetes-related cataracts lead to blindness in approximately 75% of canines within a year of diagnosis.  

Dog Breeds Prone to Cataracts 

Basically, all dogs can get cataracts as they get older. But some dog breeds are much more likely to get this problem than others. As per experts in veterinary ophthalmology, that some dogs are “genetically programmed” to get cataracts.  

Below is a list of these breeds:  

1. Siberian Huskies 

2. Boston Terriers  

3. Cocker Spaniels 

4. Miniature Poodles  

5. Labrador Retrievers  

6. Golden Retrievers  

7. Welsh Springer Spaniels 

8. Miniature Schnauzers 

The absence of a breed from this list does not, however, mean that it is immune to cataracts. Not all dogs of the aforementioned breeds are necessarily predisposed to lens cloudiness.  

How to Tell Your Dog is Developing Cataracts 

Cataracts in dogs typically manifest themselves in two ways: extreme clumsiness and sudden lens opacity. Cataracts in dogs can be divided into four distinct stages, each defined by a unique set of symptoms:  

1. Incipient Cataracts – affects only 15% of the lens and does not cause vision issues  

2. Immature Cataracts – involves over 15% of the lens and triggers mild vision deficits  

3. Mature Cataracts – affect the entire retina and results in a near-blindness condition  

4. Hypermature Cataracts– triggers eye inflammation, uveitis, and lens capsule wrinkling 

Cataracts are frequently confused with nuclear sclerosis, an age-related clouding of the dog’s eyes. The signs and symptoms of cataracts and nuclear sclerosis are quite similar; however, veterinarians can easily distinguish between them.  

How do You Treat Cataracts in Dogs?  

Depending on how far along the cataract is and the extent to which the dog’s eyes are in general, the vet will either suggest eye drops or cataract surgery.  
 
1. Medicated Eye Drops for Dogs 
 
Cataracts in dogs necessitate daily administration of eye drops including medications such anti-inflammatories and steroids. These medications are not effective in treating cataracts. However, they are essential in preventing the deterioration of vision caused by cataracts. For instance, inflammation brought on by cataracts can increase the risk of developing glaucoma.  
 
2. Cataract Surgery for Dogs 
 
Phacoemulsification is the surgical technique used to remove cataracts, in which ultrasonic waves are used to fragment the clouded lens. After the lens has been removed, a lens implant may be placed in its stead. The dog’s vision will improve even if the veterinarian doesn’t implant a false lens. However, keep in mind that this procedure does not come cheap. 

Canine Cataract Surgery Basics 

When a dog develops cataracts, surgery is the fastest and most reliable method for restoring vision. Cataract surgery is not only costly, but also sensitive and fraught with potential hazards and considerations. You should think about the risks involved with cataract surgery for your dog before committing to it. 

1. General Anesthesia. Undergoing general anesthesia is always a risk, even for healthy pets. Luckily, with the advancement in modern veterinary medicine, the risk is low but definitely worth mentioning.  

2. Intraocular Infections. Although intraocular infections are rare after cataract surgery, they can still happen. And in more severe cases, if left untreated, eye infections can result in vision impairments and blindness. 

3. Glaucoma. It occurs in approximately 30% of dogs that undergo cataract surgery, usually within the first 24 hours after surgery. Although temporary in nature, glaucoma requires adequate management.  

4. Permanent Blindness. Not every cataract surgery is successful. Complications like chronic inflammation in the eyes, glaucoma, and retinal detachment can result in permanent blindness. 

The good news is that almost all dogs that are surgical candidates recover their eyesight. 

There is no need to lose hope if you discover that your pet is suffering from cataract because the problem can be treated. All that’s required is that you keep an eye on their health and take appropriate action when necessary.