Introduction
If you suspect that your dog has developed cataracts, you will need to have your dog’s eyes examined by a veterinarian or a specialized veterinarian ophthalmologist. The veterinarian will perform a series of tests to confirm the presence of cataracts, or to find out what is causing the changes to your dog’s eyes and vision.
Diagnosing Canine Cataracts
As you walk your dog into the examining room, the veterinarian will probably want to watch how the dog walks into the room to look for any signs of vision troubles. Additional tests used to examine the quality of vision include hand movements in front of the eyes to check for any reactions, and throwing a cotton ball around the room to see if the dog’s vision is able to catch the movement of the balls. After checking the dog’s vision, a few more tests will be performed to look closely into the condition of the eyes themselves.
The most common tests that veterinarians use to diagnose cataracts, and other eye conditions, include the Schirmer tear test and staining the eye with a fluorescein dye. These two tests are used to check the moisture level of the eye, look for foreign bodies that may be in the eye, and to find out if any damage to the cornea of the eye has occurred.
Testing the pressure of the eye with a tonometer tool, and using a slit lamp instrument to examine the lens of the eye are additional tests that may be used to gain a larger picture of what is happening to the eye. The tonometer tool is used to measure the intraocular pressure by blowing a puff of air into the eye, and the slit lamp instrument is used to look closely into the eye to examine the inner structures of the eye. Anesthetic drops are normally applied to the eyes before these tests occur for a painless examination and accurate test results.