Tooli’s Eye Emergency

By Helen Burns | Dated February 5, 2016

All of our patients at Gordon Vet Hospital are special but Tooli is truly one of a kind. A gorgeous 2-year-old Newfoundland, Tooli has already been diagnosed with hip arthritis, ongoing dermatitis and a congenital deformity of her eyelids which was previously fixed at a specialist hospital.

Tooli came to Gordon Vet for an arthritis injection, as part of her ongoing treatment and her loving mother mentioned that one eye had become cloudier than the other in the last couple of days. After some testing including an ophthalmoscopic exam and measurement of the pressure in her eye we determined that she had a cataract in the cloudy eye. A cataract is a change to the lens of the eye causing it to become opaque. We frequently see cataracts in older or diabetic patients and they are a common sign of aging. While you should always give us a call if you have noticed a sudden change in the colour of the eyes, it rarely requires treatment in animals over 10 years if it occurs subtly and slowly.

After talking to local specialists given Tooli’s very young age it was decided referral was in her best interest as cataracts that occur suddenly can be caused by trauma and, although normally completely harmless, may have been the tip of the iceberg for Tooli’s problems.

Tooli ended up needing surgery to remove the affected lens and has recovered well. The eye operated on will be slightly blurred but Tooli will have a much better quality of life and improved vision as a result of the surgery.