During the month of May, the American College of Veterinary Optholmologists puts on an annual event where over 300 veterinarians donate their time to provide eye exams for service dogs in the US and Canada.
How are eye exams done?
- Schirmer tear test: By placing paper strips under the lower eyelids for 60 seconds, your pet’s tear production will be measured. This test can diagnose “dry eye”, which is low tear production.
- Tonometry: This test is used to measure pressure inside the eye. Problems like glaucoma (high pressure) and uveitis (low pressure) can be diagnosed with this.
- Fluorescein Stain: This is a fluorescent green dye that checks for the cornea. The dye sticks to unhealthy areas or corneal lesions.
Eye exams in dogs are extremely important. They can diagnose genetic or hereditary eye problems that can be problematic over time. They can also indicate overall health for your pet and can point to certain problems depending on what is found. They can even help you catch an illness early so that you can treat it before it might not be treatable. Untreated eye problems can cause discomfort, pain, affect vision and reduce the quality of life.