Eye problems can progress quickly, and some can cause permanent blindness within hours or days. A veterinary ophthalmologist is a vet with advanced training in eye disease and eye surgery. General vets handle many eye problems; specialists step in for complex cases, surgery and conditions that threaten vision.
This guide is part of our guide to veterinary specialists.
Eye emergencies: see a vet the same day
- Sudden squinting, holding the eye closed, or pawing at the eye
- A cloudy or blue eye that appeared suddenly
- A red, painful eye, or an eye that looks enlarged
- An eye bulging out of the socket (proptosis), common in flat-faced breeds after trauma
- Sudden blindness: bumping into things, reluctance to move
- Any injury to the eye, including cat scratches
- Chemicals splashed in the eye: flush gently with saline or clean water and go in
Common eye conditions
| Condition | What it is | Often seen in |
|---|---|---|
| Corneal ulcer | A scratch or wound on the eye surface; painful | All pets; flat-faced breeds |
| Glaucoma | High pressure inside the eye; painful and can cause blindness quickly | Some dog breeds; secondary to other eye disease |
| Cataracts | Clouding of the lens causing vision loss | Dogs, especially diabetic dogs and some breeds |
| Dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca) | Low tear production, sticky discharge, dull eye surface | Several dog breeds |
| Cherry eye | Prolapsed gland of the third eyelid | Young dogs of certain breeds |
| Entropion | Eyelid rolls inward, lashes rub the eye | Several breeds |
| Uveitis | Inflammation inside the eye, often linked to systemic disease | Dogs and cats |
| Feline herpesvirus eye disease | Conjunctivitis and ulcers | Cats |
Nuclear sclerosis vs cataracts
Many older dogs develop a bluish-grey haze in the lens called nuclear sclerosis, a normal ageing change that usually does not significantly affect vision. It can look like a cataract. Your vet can tell them apart.
What a veterinary ophthalmologist does
- Detailed eye exams with specialised equipment
- Eye pressure measurement for glaucoma
- Tear production testing
- Eye ultrasound and electroretinography (testing retinal function) before cataract surgery
- Surgery such as cataract removal, glaucoma procedures, eyelid correction and corneal repair
- Breed eye screening for inherited disease in breeding dogs
Never use human eye drops without advice
Some human eye drops, especially those containing steroids, can make ulcers dramatically worse. Always get a diagnosis first.
Related guides
This guide is general information for pet owners and is not a substitute for an examination by a licensed veterinarian. If your pet is unwell, contact your vet.
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