![]() Nuclear sclerosis is a change in the lens of the eye that normally occurs with aging. The two conditions look different when your veterinarian examines your dog’s eyes with an ophthalmoscope. It tends to affect both eyes at the same time. More important, nuclear sclerosis (also called lenticular sclerosis) does not significantly diminish your dog’s vision the way cataracts do. Nuclear sclerosis usually gives your dog’s eyes a cloudy, bluish discoloration, unlike cataracts, which are white and opaque. Both conditions cause the lens to appear cloudy, but there are a few differences. ![]() It is easy to confuse cataracts and nuclear sclerosis. However, focusing ability may become impaired.” “Unlike cataracts,” Coster says, “this condition rarely causes vision impairment. “Most dogs, with age, develop a haze within the lens similar to cataracts, called nuclear sclerosis,” says veterinary ophthalmologist Martin Coster, DVM, MS, Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (DACVO). Nuclear Sclerosis in DogsĪs dogs age, some cloudiness is normal. However, there are some other conditions that can also create a cloudy appearance in your dog’s eyes that require immediate veterinary attention. The most common causes of cloudy eyes in senior dogs are nuclear sclerosis and cataracts. While your veterinarian is your best source of information about your dog’s eye health, it helps to know what types of problems can cause a cloudy appearance in your dog’s eyes, and any other symptoms you can look out for. Trying to distinguish between what is normal and what is a problem can be tricky. But cloudy eyes in dogs can also can be a symptom of a number of eye problems. When you see dogs with cloudy eyes, it may be a natural part of the aging process. After all, we don’t want our dogs to lose their vision or be uncomfortable. For physiologic anisocoria, no treatment is needed.If the eyes are the windows to the soul, then it is no wonder we get worried when we notice cloudy eyes in dogs. Treatment depends on identifying and addressing the underlying problem. Neuroimaging with MRI (occasionally CT) depending on the person’s history and what is found on neuro-ophthalmic and neurologic examinations. Taking a careful history of symptoms, noting when they started and what other problems may be present.Ĭhecking the ability of each pupil to constrict in the presence of bright light and to dilate in the darkness. If the problem is new, the doctor will then focus on which pupil is responding differently. When a doctor sees a patient for uneven pupil size, the first concern is to determine whether the unevenness is new or long-standing. Reaction to certain topical dilating medications (such as a pet’s eye drops, or anti-nausea or motion sickness patches such as scopolamine) that may accidentally get into one eye. This may be due to a brain aneurysm, and should be urgently evaluated in the emergency room. On the other hand, a person whose pupils are uneven when they were normal before may be experiencing a serious problem such as:Ī torn or blocked blood vessel in the neck (usually the result of head or neck trauma), which could cause a mildly droopy eyelid on the side of the smaller pupil.Ī third nerve palsy can result in the inability to move the affected eye normally, in addition to eyelid drooping (which is often significant) on the side of the larger pupil. In these cases, there are no other symptoms and both of the person’s pupils react to changes in light. ![]() This is called “physiologic anisocoria” and is normal. Slight differences between the two pupils may be present in up to 20 percent of people. This is to rule out eye conditions such as acute angle closure glaucoma or inflammation of the front part of the eye (uveitis or iritis). More often than not, it is pointed out to the person by someone close to them.Īn ophthalmologist should be seen to rule out ocular causes of eye pain and pupil asymmetry, especially when vision loss or changes, redness or discharge from the eye(s) is present. Uneven pupil size may be noticed by the person or by a health professional during an examination.
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