The Red Eye

I recently had the privilege to travel to San Francisco and reconnect with a veterinary ophthalmology friend .

We took long hikes in coastal redwood forests,

walked the Golden Gate Bridge,

and participated in a walking tour of the Pacific Heights neighborhood (home of the rich and notorious). This was the home of Meg Ryan when she was married to Dennis Quaid.

One new diversion was Geocaching for little treasures using GPS coordinates in Coastal California Neighborhoods.

 I have to say it is a very dog-friendly area. When stopping at a local gas station, I found this owner had put his dog on the roof of his car to watch him pumping gas.

Public parks are the busy social place to have play dates and birthday parties for dogs and their pet parents. The Japanese Gardens are beautiful in Golden Gate Park. Pictured is a former sand dune converted to a park slightly larger than Central Park in NYC. 

I rode a Segway through the parks with stopovers at various sites such as the AIDS memorial garden.

As I walked with my friend, I asked, "In over 35 years of practice as a veterinary eye specialist, what has been the most common concern of owners when they come in?" She said, "The red eye." 

More specifically she added the painful red eyes, presenting as closed eyes, squinting and pain. With that background I wanted to "Segway" into common red eye conditions.

What are the most common causes of red eyes in pets?

Illness, Injury, Irritation, and Disease (local infection & some entire body)

In phone calls to our office, what are some of the comments mentioned?
Comments include worry over red and puffy lining, discharge, color change to the outer cornea of the eye, and partial to complete closure of the eyelids.

How does a client know if an eye problem is an emergency?

If the pet is holding the eye shut, pawing at the eye, the eye is bulging or is out of the socket,  along with a very red eye are all suggestive of an emergency.

Are their some historical questions that are helpful in the diagnosis? 

- How long has it been going on? Has it changed?
-Any new rugs, plants, carpet treatments, or exposures (smokers) introduced recently that could be irritating?
-Have any old, expired, or home remedies been tried?
-Is this the only pet exhibiting signs?
-Has this problem been treated elsewhere? (Bring the medications or home remedies)

What are the specific tests beyond the physical exam and utilization of the ophthalmoscope that are commonly utilized in eye exams?

- fluorescein stain for corneal ulcers
- pressure checks monitor  with a tonopen to see if pressure low, normal, or high (glaucoma)
- tear function test checking for dry eye (schirmer tear test)
-skin exam
-sometimes laboratory tests
-occasionally ultrasound of the eye itself to check for tumors

How are eye diseases treated?

It depends on the cause: topical and oral medications are often needed. In addition a soft e-collar is often needed to keep nails away from the eye causing further harm.

Statistically, what are the most common eye emergencies?

- excess pressure in the eye (glaucoma)
- falling forward of the lens leading to pressure changes and pain (lens luxation)
- penetrating objects/ sticks into the eye
- divots in the outer layer of the eye covering (corneal ulcers)
- bleeding within the eye (clotting disorders, detached retina)
It is late at night and I really do not want to see an emergency vet for my dog's squinting. Are there some basic tests I can check at home?

The eye will be difficult to assess if closed and thus needs the evaluation.

Betsy T. Sigmon DVM, Diplomate Canine and Feline Practice

Creature Comforts Animal Hospital

Cary, NC