Feline Glaucomas

Cats are usually presented at a very late stage in the course of glaucoma when the eye is already blind. Secondary glaucoma because of another underlying ocular lesion is the most common form of glaucoma in the cat and is frequently associated with chronic anterior uveitis or intraocular neoplasia. Chronic stages of glaucoma in the cat are characterized by buphthalmus, anterior lens luxation, and exposure keratitis secondary to the enlarged globe. Ophthalmoscopic signs of glaucomatous retinal degeneration are only noticed in very advanced stages. Treatment of glaucoma in cats is usually aimed to keep the eye comfortable and within a normal intraocular pressure range. However, many antiglaucoma medications that are successfully used in humans and dogs are not very well tolerated by cats and, therefore, the selection of recommended drugs is limited in this species.