You may have noticed that your older dog’s eyes seem to be cloudy rather than bright and shiny like they were when it was young and you think to yourself, "oh no, Fido has cataracts - he’s going blind."  Although it is possible that your pet has cataracts, there is another more common explanation for the cloudy look in his eyes - nuclear sclerosis. And, that is actually good news.

Nuclear sclerosis is a normal change that occurs in the lens of older dogs. Fortunately, "dogs with nuclear sclerosis tend to have pretty normal vision," says Dr. Hamor, a veterinary ophthalmologist at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana. This aging change, which most often starts in dogs around seven years of age, is usually found in both eyes and is symmetrical. Although detailed vision of near objects may be slightly compromised in pets with the condition, their day and night vision should not be affected.

What’s happening to my dog’s eyes with nuclear sclerosis?

Nuclear sclerosis is caused by a hardening of the lens. As humans and animals get older the lens fibers in our eyes continue to regenerate and the center becomes more densely packed. This causes the lens to become less flexible.  In humans this lessening flexibility often sends us off to the drug store to get a pair of "reading" glasses.

Nuclear sclerosis appears as bluish-grey haziness at the nucleus, or center of the lens and is usually seen in both eyes. Your veterinarian can accurately differentiate nuclear sclerosis from a cataract by shining a penlight into the eye and the noting reflectivity. In nuclear sclerosis, a reflection from the tapetum (a layer of tissue in the eye that is behind or within the retina that reflects visible light.) will be seen. If you dog has cataracts, the reflection will be blocked.

What if my dog has cataracts?

According to Pet Education from Drs Foster and Smith, treatment for canine cataracts involves surgical removal of the lens. With the increase in veterinary surgical skill and equipment, the surgical procedure to remove the problem lens is becoming increasingly common.

Before committing to cataract removal, a veterinary ophthalmologist will assess your pet’s overall health to determine if it is a good candidate for successful surgical outcome. For example: diabetic animals that are not regulated, aggressive animals that are difficult to treat daily, or animals in poor or failing health, are not good surgical candidates.

If you are concerned about your dog’s eye sight, have your vet check either with a special appointment or as part of your routine wellness check and vaccination visit.

Posted by Barbara.