We are lucky to have some great equipment at the surgery to be able to examine your pet’s eyes, so that we can make a treatment plan. Here is a little explanation of the tests that we may need to perform if your pet has a problem with their eyes.

Obstacle course

We might see if your pet can navigate through a mini obstacle course of things like chair legs or boxes to assess their vision.

Some animals who have lost their sight can manage brilliantly at home by knowing the layout of the house and using their other senses. It can be surprisingly difficult to realise the extent of some animals’ loss of vision since they cope so well.

They may struggle in a new place if they can’t see very well or if furniture at home is moved around. We may also use balls or toys to assess whether the eyes are tracking or following moving objects.

Ophthalmoscope

This is a handheld device with a light and a series of magnifying lenses to examine your pet’s eyes in more detail.

We can use this to check for abnormal eyelashes, to highlight ulcers, and to examine the iris (the coloured part of the eye around the pupil), or the retina (the light detection surface at the back of the eye).

We will sometimes use a torch and a handheld lens to examine the retina in more detail. We may need to apply drops to your pet’s eyes to dilate their pupils so we can get the best look.

Fluroscein dye

This is a special eye drop that looks orange in the dropper, but turns green in the eye. Some people say this can sting when it first goes into the eye and then it will feel normal. Most pets don’t mind having this drop put in at all!

The main use of this dye is to highlight any scratches or ulcers to the transparent front of the eye. Any injury will be highlighted bright green, and this helps us to check the size, depth, and the edges of the injury so we can offer the right treatment.

It is normal for this dye to follow the tear duct into the nose and to show at the nostrils - this tells us that the tear ducts are working properly. This dye can also help us to check the quality of the tears.

Schirmer tear tests

These are two little strips of paper that measure the amount of tears in the eye. We measure the distance that the blue dye moves from the eyelid in a minute.

Low results mean the eye may not be producing enough tears, making your pet prone to infection or ulcers. We sometimes see high results if the eye is irritated or infected.

Local anaesthetic

We might use a drop of local anaesthetic to numb the surface of the eye for minor procedures or to allow a more thorough examination if the eye is very painful.

Tonometer

This is a handheld electronic machine that allows us to measure the internal pressure of the eye. Too high may mean the animal has glaucoma and this can need urgent treatment.

The tonometer gently bounces a probe off the eye to measure the pressure and is quick to perform. We will help you to keep your pet’s face nice and still so we can get the most accurate results.

Any cases requiring more specialised examination or surgeries can be referred to local specialist ophthalmic veterinary surgeons.

If you have any concerns about your pet’s eyes or their vision, please don’t hesitate to call us on 01665 252 250.