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Glaucoma is an eye disease that causes an increase in intraocular pressure. It is also called eye pressure. Glaucoma in cats causes severe pain and, if left untreated, can lead to blindness. Therefore, it is important for cat owners to learn what glaucoma is in cats, what causes it, and what can be done for its treatment. In this article, you can find information about glaucoma in cats. What is Glaucoma? The inside of the eyeball is filled with a fluid called aqueous humor. The normal size and shape of the eye are maintained by the amount of fluid inside the eyeball. Aqueous humor is produced by a structure called the ciliary body and contains nutrients and oxygen used by the structures within the eye. In addition to producing this fluid, the ciliary body also houses the suspensory ligaments that hold the lens in place. The muscles in the ciliary body control the shape and focusing ability of the lens by pulling on the suspensory ligaments. The pressure of the fluid in the front or anterior chamber of the eye is called intraocular pressure. High intraocular pressure leads to damage or degenerative changes in the retina and optic nerve. The retina is the innermost lining of the eyeball, located on the back surface. It contains light-sensitive rods and cones, as well as other cells that convert images into nerve signals. The optic nerve travels from the back of the eye to the brain and carries signals from the retina. Vision occurs in this way. The ciliary body continuously produces eye fluid, and excess fluid is drained from the eye between the cornea and the iris. This area is called the iridocorneal angle, filtration angle, or drainage angle. As long as eye fluid production and absorption are equal, intraocular pressure remains constant. However, due to various reasons, this equality is disrupted, and glaucoma occurs. What Causes Glaucoma?

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The inside of the eyeball is filled with a fluid called aqueous humor. The normal size and shape of the eye are maintained by the amount of fluid within the eyeball. Aqueous humor is produced by a structure called the ciliary body and contains nutrients and oxygen used by the structures within the eye. In addition to producing this fluid, the ciliary body also houses the suspensory ligaments that hold the lens in place. The muscles in the ciliary body control the shape and focusing ability of the lens by pulling on the suspensory ligaments.

Intraocular pressure is the pressure of the fluid located in the front or anterior chamber of the eye. High intraocular pressure leads to damage or degenerative changes in the retina and optic nerve. The retina is the innermost lining of the eyeball, located on the back surface. It contains light-sensitive rods and cones, as well as other cells that convert images into nerve signals. The optic nerve travels from the back of the eye to the brain and carries signals from the retina. Vision occurs in this way.

The ciliary body continuously produces eye fluid, and excess fluid is drained from the eye between the cornea and the iris. This area is called the iridocorneal angle, filtration angle, or drainage angle. As long as eye fluid production and absorption are equal, intraocular pressure remains constant. However, due to various reasons, this equality is disrupted, and glaucoma occurs.

What Causes Glaucoma?

The disease is primarily caused not by the overproduction of eye fluid, but by its inability to drain properly from the eye, i.e., inadequate drainage. Glaucoma is also divided into two types: primary and secondary glaucoma.

Primary glaucoma results from an anatomical abnormality in the cat's eye, particularly the drainage angle, and leads to increased intraocular pressure in a healthy eye. Primary glaucoma is rare in cats. Burmese or Siamese cats are more prone to this type of glaucoma.

Secondary glaucoma, on the other hand, results from other eye diseases or trauma to the eye. Secondary glaucoma is the most common type of glaucoma in cats. It is a frequently encountered eye disease, especially in older cats. Among the most common causes of glaucoma are;

• Uveitis, caused by an infection of the inner part of the eye resulting in a wound that blocks the drainage angle,
• The lens falling forward and physically blocking the drainage angle or pupil,
• Physical blockage of the iridocorneal angle by tumors,
• A clot formed as a result of intraocular bleeding blocking the drainage angle,
• Inflammation caused by proteins in the lens leaking into the eye as a result of a lens tear due to trauma.

Symptoms of Glaucoma in Cats

Noticeable symptoms occur in cats with glaucoma. If you notice one or more of these symptoms in your cat, you should take it to a veterinarian immediately. The most common symptoms of glaucoma include: Eye pain, Discharge from the eye, Swelling in the eye area and protrusion of the eyeball, Bluish or cloudy appearance of the cornea, Constantly dilated pupil, Blindness. Acute glaucoma is a medical emergency. If the increased intraocular pressure is not returned to normal quickly, your cat may go blind in a very short time. If any of these symptoms are observed, a veterinarian should be contacted immediately for treatment. Diagnosis and Treatment Methods Glaucoma can be easily diagnosed by veterinarians. For this, a tonometer, which measures intraocular pressure, is used. Intraocular pressure must be lowered quickly to prevent permanent damage or blindness. However, the problem causing glaucoma must also be treated. Analgesics are used to prevent the pain and discomfort caused by glaucoma. Medications that slow down the production of eye fluid and speed up drainage are also used to reduce the increased pressure. In severe or critical cases, surgery may be necessary for treatment. In emergency surgery, the cat's intraocular pressure is rapidly lowered. If drug treatment is ineffective or blindness develops, removal of the eye may be necessary to eliminate pain and discomfort.

• Eye pain,
• Eye discharge,
• Swelling in the eye area and protrusion of the eyeball,
• Bluish or cloudy appearance of the cornea,
• Constantly dilated pupil,
• Blindness is present.

Acute glaucoma is an urgent health problem. If the increased intraocular pressure is not returned to normal quickly, your cat may go blind very soon. If any of these symptoms are observed, a veterinarian should be contacted immediately for treatment.

Diagnosis and Treatment Methods

Glaucoma can be easily diagnosed by veterinarians. For this, a tonometer, which measures intraocular pressure, is used.

To prevent permanent damage or blindness in the eye, intraocular pressure must be lowered quickly. However, the problem causing glaucoma must also be treated. Analgesics are used to prevent the pain and discomfort caused by glaucoma. Medications that slow down the production of eye fluid and speed up drainage are also used to reduce the increased pressure.

In severe or critical cases, surgery may be necessary for treatment. In emergency surgery, the cat's intraocular pressure is quickly lowered. If medication is ineffective or blindness develops, removal of the eye may be necessary to eliminate pain and discomfort.