Hamilton, a 4-year-old English bulldog, was in agony every time he tried to open his eyes. His misshapen eyelids would roll inward, causing his eyelashes to scrape against his cornea. Dr. Dana Varble, chief veterinary officer for the North American Veterinary Community, explains, “Have you ever had something scratch your cornea? It is profoundly painful. For these poor animals, every blink is excruciating.”
After undergoing plastic surgery on his eyes, Hamilton could finally see and interact with his owners without pain. Dr. Varble emphasizes,
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“These nip and tucks are not cosmetic; they are critical to the health of the animal. When the eyelids roll in and the lashes rub the cornea, eventually the cornea gets scarred, causing visual problems or even blindness.”
Hamilton’s vision issues worsened after he gained weight, with his beefy cheeks forcing his eyelids to fold inward. However, symptoms of this painful condition can show up in puppyhood, often disguised as behavioral problems. “We see these 6-month-old puppies who are cranky, not training well, still not housebroken or getting over that puppy nipping stage,” Dr. Varble said. “You take a closer look, and they are constantly in pain every time they blink their eyes.”
Breeds Prone to Eye Issues
Certain dog breeds are genetically more likely to develop eyelid problems, particularly those with shortened muzzles and flattened faces, such as boxers, Boston terriers, French bulldogs, Pekingese, pugs, and shih tzus. Cats, particularly large breeds with flat faces like Persians and Himalayans or those with round, puffy cheeks such as Siberians, Ragdolls, and Maine coons, can also suffer from malformed eyelids, though it is less common than in dogs.
Jinxy, a 6-month-old Maine coon, frequently kept his painful eyes shut until his owner took him to a specialist in Athens, Georgia, for complex eyelid surgery. Dr. Kate Myrna, an associate professor of veterinary ophthalmology at the University of Georgia, performed the surgery.
“These eyelid diseases happen in people as well, and I like to tell my clients we practice them on humans first to make sure they are safe before we do the surgery on their dog or cat,” she said.
After his surgery, Jinxy could open his eyes and purr at his owner without pain.
Other Eye Conditions
Denali, a mastiff mix, was rescued at 4 months old with bulging red glands in the corner of each eye, a condition known as “cherry eye.” “We call it cherry eye because it looks like a small cherry in the corner of their eye, but it’s actually the tear glands behind the third eyelid rolling outward,” Dr. Varble explained. While not always painful, cherry eye can be irritating and puts dogs at risk of injury or infection from pawing at their eyes. Left untreated, it can lead to dry eye and potential blindness. Surgery to correct cherry eye can be relatively simple for an experienced veterinary surgeon, but more severe cases may require a specialist.
Limited Access to Specialists
Unfortunately, there are only 500 veterinary ophthalmologists in the United States, making it difficult for pet owners and general vets to get the quick treatment needed. To address this, the North American Veterinary Community provides periodic training for general vets to handle simple eye injuries and abnormalities, freeing up specialists for serious cases and emergencies. “If our general practice veterinarians can handle more than just first aid for eyes, they can free up the specialists for serious cases and significant emergencies,” Dr. Varble said.
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Recognizing Signs of Eye Problems
Mastiffs and bloodhounds are often born with “big droopy eyelids” that refuse to close completely, creating dry spots and making the dogs more prone to getting dust and other things stuck in their eyes. Pet owners should act as soon as they notice significant irritation. Signs of significant injury include redness in one or both eyes, excessive squinting or twitching of an eyelid, or an eye that remains closed or is unable to open. A blue haze over the entire eye that lasts more than two hours is also a concern, indicating the eye is waterlogged and needs immediate attention.
Dr. Myrna warns, “Remember, a scratched eye can easily become infected and can go from a superficial, easy-to-treat injury to needing surgery or the pet will lose the eye and lose vision — and that can happen overnight.”
Taking prompt action and seeking appropriate veterinary care can prevent serious complications and ensure that pets like Hamilton, Jinxy, and Denali live pain-free and healthy lives.
