Veterinary Ophthalmology in Hattiesburg

Symptoms of Eye Problems in Cats & Dogs

We can diagnose and treat the following symptoms:

• Pain
• Redness
• Increased Tear Production
• Visible Third Eyelid
• Corneal Cloudiness
• Dilated Pupils
• Enlarged Eye

Common Eye Problems in Pets

Some of the most common eye problems we treat include:

• Cataracts
• Scratches
• Abrasions
• Drainage
• Corneal Ulcers
• Infections
• Vision Loss

Ophthalmology FAQs

• What are some common eye problems for senior pets?

  Cataracts

  A cloudy, opaque cataract can form on part or all of an eye's lens. Cataracts prevent light from reaching the back of the eye, resulting in blurred vision or even blindness depending on their severity.

  Glaucoma

  To maintain constant, consistent pressure, the production and drainage of fluid in the eye are precisely balanced. Glaucoma occurs when this balance is disrupted and intraocular pressure rises.

  Symptoms of glaucoma include pain, increased tear production, redness, corneal cloudiness, a visible third eyelid, and/or dilated pupils. In advanced cases, the eyes can become enlarged.

• What should I do if my dog/cat has something in their eye?

  Begin by flushing your pet's eye with saline solution to try to remove the foreign object or substance. Unfortunately, if your pet is experiencing eye pain, this can be difficult.

  Do not attempt to remove the object with your fingers or tweezers, as this can damage the eye.

  If you cannot flush the object out yourself, take your pet to your veterinarian as soon as possible so that your pet doesn’t experience any complications.

• Why should I consider cataract surgery for my dog or cat?

  Not all dogs and cats that have cataracts necessarily need cataract surgery. Most don't. This is because most of the time, lens opacities in dogs and cats are very small, and don’t interfere much with vision.

  Only a veterinary ophthalmologist can determine if cataract surgery is required for a given patient. It is usually only done when the cataract is severely hindering the animal's ability to see.

  Cataract surgery is not a life-saving surgery — it is a quality-of-life surgery. Restoring a blind dog or cat's vision with cataract surgery can give the animal a new lease on life.

  The ability of a blind dog or cat to see its owner, play with toys, look out the window, and see things is life-changing for both the patient and their owner. This is especially true if the animal is elderly, deaf or hard of hearing, and/or suffers from dementia or cognitive issues.

• What is a cherry eye, and how is it treated?

  Dogs have three eyelids: two visible and one in the inner corner of the eye that is usually hidden from view. A tear gland is located on the third eyelid. This gland is normally inconspicuous, but some dogs have a congenital weakness of the ligaments that hold it in place.

  When these ligaments fail, the gland pops out of its normal location, and it looks like there is a “cherry” stuck at the inner corner of the eye.

  To treat cherry eye, a veterinarian will perform a simple surgery to attach the gland back in a more normal position.

• My dog has Entropin (eyelids that roll inwards). What are the treatment options available to me?

  When a dog's eyelids roll inwards, hair rubs against the surface of the eye with each blink. If left untreated, this causes pain and increased tear production, and will eventually damage the cornea.

  If entropion has developed because of a condition that will eventually resolve, your ophthalmology animal vet can temporarily suture the eyelids into a more normal position. In other cases, surgery may be necessary to permanently repair abnormal eyelid anatomy.