Vision outcome with antiglaucoma therapy and prognostic factors in canine glaucoma: A 6-years retrospective study in Japan

Vision outcome provides invaluable information in clinical decision making in the management of canine glaucoma. In the present study, data of glaucoma dogs were retrospectively evaluated for vision outcome by treatment modality (with or without surgical implantation of the Ahmed glaucoma valve, AGV) and by type of glaucoma, sex and breed in cases of medically treated glaucoma. Among 1990 dogs presented with eye diseases between 2011 and 2017, 224 dogs (11.3%) were diagnosed with glaucoma at initial presentation and 228 eyes of 207 dogs have follow-up records of at least 30 days were included in the analysis. At the time of first presentation, 62/228 eyes (27.2%) were visual. Visual preservation rates were constantly significantly higher in dogs that received AGV placement with a median time to vision loss of 76.4 weeks vs. 9.6 weeks in dogs that received medical treatment alone. Among dogs treated medically, vision outcome was comparable between two types of glaucoma (i.e., primary and secondary) and between sexes. Medically treated Shiba dogs showed significantly lower vision preservation rates and a shorter median time to vision loss compared to other breeds. These results suggest that AGV implants result in better vision outcome compared to medical therapy alone and should be considered in dogs that are visual at the time of presentation and suitable for surgery. And Shiba dogs are considered as the factor that indicate poor vision outcome of medical treatment alone in the present study

Evaluation of Refractive Value by Skiascopy in Healthy Beagles

We examined the refractive value in healthy Beagles by skiascopy. The mean refractive value of 54 eyes of 27 Beagles was 0.08 ± 0.87 (mean ± SD) diopters (D). The numbers of eyes defined as having emmetropia, myopia and hyperopia were 34, 8 and 12, respectively. Anisometropia was detected in 4 dogs. The mean refractive values in the 3-6-year-old and 8-9-year-old groups were 0.26 ± 0.84 and -0.29 ± 0.82 D, respectively, with a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05)

Indocyanine green angiography findings with Collie eye anomaly in Hokkaido dogs

Collie eye anomaly (CEA) is an inherited, congenital ocular disorder caused by a defective mesodermal differentiation in the posterior segment of the eye. Major ocular finding of CEA is abnormalities of choroidal vessels, that is choroidal hypoplasia. Indocyanine green angiography (IA) is one of the useful ocular examination to observe choroidal vessels in both human and dogs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate IA with CEA in Hokkaido dogs, which is one of the traditional Japanese breed and natural monument in Japan. Ten Hokkaido dogs that had been carried out genetic tests in advance were included in this study. Dogs included in this study had ophthalmic examination, such as menace response, dazzle reflex, direct and indirect pupillary light reflex, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, simple funduscopy, and IA. According to the result of genetic tests, they were classified as 8 affected and 2 carrier dogs. Simple funduscopy revealed choroidal hypoplasia bilaterally and temporal or dorsotemporal area to the optic disc in all affected dogs. With IA, we could observe the abnormalities of choroidal vessels not only at the area coincided with choroidal hypoplasia with simple funduscopy but also at the area detected normal with simple funduscopy in affected dogs. No abnormalities on fundus were observed with both simple funduscopy and IA in all carrier dogs. In conclusion, it was revealed that choroidal hypoplasia in CEA Hokkaido dogs was existed also in the area that could not be observed with simple funduscopy

Survey of ophthalmic disorders among captive pinnipeds in Japan

Pinnipeds have evolved enlarged ocular bulbs to catch fish in the dark. However, their large protruding eyes are easily damaged, which increases the risk of blindness and death in these animals. In captivity, ophthalmic disorders, manifested as keratitis and cataracts, are common among pinnipeds. In this study, we investigated symptoms of ophthalmic disorders in pinniped species using a questionnaire distributed to 32 zoos and aquariums throughout Japan. We conducted this study in cooperation with the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The survey included 295 pinnipeds from four otariid species, five phocid species, and one odobenid species. Of these, 43.1% of the pinnipeds had diseases affecting the lens, cornea, and/or other eye parts. Age was positively associated with lens disorders in California sea lions, South American sea lions, and spotted seals. Conflicts and public appearances were also associated with corneal and/or lens disorders in California sea lions. Treatments were evaluated as effective for corneal disorders and conjunctivitis. The results of this study indicate that ophthalmic disorders in pinnipeds are related to the conditions of their captive environment. Aquariums and zoos should be encouraged to share information regarding optimal maintenance practices to improve the living conditions of pinnipeds