An eye exam in a dog can reveal many of the same eye diseases as in cats and humans — including cataracts, glaucoma, dry eyes, corneal ulcers, tumors, and inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eye or deeper structures such as the iris and retina. Regular eye exams allow us to detect such conditions early, before they develop into painful or vision-threatening conditions.
What happens during a dog eye exam?
A dog eye exam at A-Vet always starts with a discussion about symptoms, followed by a thorough examination with specialized equipment. Depending on what we find, we may measure tear production, eye pressure, and examine the cornea, lens, and retina in more detail.
When the dog squints its eye or it runs
A red, watery or squinted eye is one of the most common reasons for emergency visits to us. In such cases, we often start with a Schirmer tear test to measure tear production, followed by fluorescein — a dye that reveals any wounds on the cornea. Based on the findings, we assess whether further examination with more advanced equipment is needed.
Slit lamp and ophthalmoscope
The slit lamp combines a strong light source with a microscope, providing a magnified image of the cornea, lens, and anterior chamber of the eye. This equipment requires specialized skills to use correctly — so it is usually only available in clinics with authorized ophthalmologists. With an ophthalmoscope, we examine the retina and the back of the eye.
Tonometry
If eye problems are suspected, we measure the pressure inside the eye with a tonometer (Tonovet at our office). Too high or too low pressure is an important sign of several serious eye diseases, including glaucoma.
Eye lighting
Eye examination is a routine examination to detect hereditary eye diseases, and is important both for breeding work and as a general check of the dog's visual health. We recommend eye examination at 1, 3 and 7 years of age — breeding animals annually, from 1 year of age. The examination is performed by an authorized eye examiner, a special competence Elisabeth Bjørnestad has had since 2008. Read more about dog eye examination at our place.
Does your dog need treatment?
If the examination reveals a condition that requires surgery, we have extensive experience in eye surgery.
Contact us
Do you need help choosing the right treatment?
Contact us at A-Vet Larvik and together we will find the best solution for your pet.
