Glacoma in cats

nan

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My cat, Momcat Rose, was recently diagnosed with glaucoma in her one eye. The vet prescribed drops and an oral medication as well. I got the drops right away and started her on them. I just got the oral med today. It was very expensive and I think she has to take it indefinitely.(if it even works).

Momcat Rose is PaprikaChristmas's mother. She is very special to me and she is so very sweet and beautiful. I love her very much. See below in my signature to see a picture of her precious baby PaprikaChristmas...December 21,2001 - June 2,2002.

My question is, does anyone else have a cat or cats with glaucoma? If so could you please share your experiences with me? I am very worried about Momcat. The vet told me she may lose the eye. It is some better. She could not see at all out of it until I started the drops and now she can see and a lot of the "fog" has gone from her eye. But it is still rather large. I am afraid it might explode or something. The vet did say that is a possibility. Oh, and Momcat is only 4 years old.
 

janded

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I have an 8 year old male cat diagnosed with glaucoma. Two vets say the eye should be removed but they can't guarentee his other eye will last long. I don't care how much it costs to be done, but i do fear for his comfort. He acts like a normal happy cat, but i know his eye is unsaveable. I don't dare hesitate very many days as to what to do with him. Does anyone have any positive proof that the eye extraction is worth it for the pet? My prayers are with any and all pets in discomfort.
 

arlyn

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I have a very happy one eyed kitten!
No Glaucoma was not the cause, but it was dead and bulbous and getting bigger (much like Glaucoma does).
Her eyes was extracted 2 months ago.
It had been putting pressure on her brain, likely causing the cat equivilent of migraines.
It had been putting pressure on her sinus cavity, making it impossible for her to shake a simple sinus/UR infection.
And, it had been working on pushing her good eye out of it's orbit, causing further damage.
After her eye was removed, her infections cleared up in about 4 days, and she went from being a slow developing kitten, into a rowdy, non-stop, play demon, like a kitten should be.

She can tolerate a much higher level of light now as well, the photosensitivity was mostly cause by the aching head the bulbous eye created.
She was taken off of steroids a mere three days after her surgery, and she was fully recovered from it in 10 days.
 

waddle

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Sounds like kitty glaucoma must be quite different from human glaucoma? In people most forms of glaucoma do not cause eye pain and the eye rarely looks bulbous (except in some congenital forms), and in fact shrivels in very advanced stages of the disease.

Does anybody know where I could read more about this? I am an eye doctor for people
and would definitely be interested in learning more about kitty eye conditions.
 

arlyn

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Originally Posted by Waddle

Sounds like kitty glaucoma must be quite different from human glaucoma? In people most forms of glaucoma do not cause eye pain and the eye rarely looks bulbous (except in some congenital forms), and in fact shrivels in very advanced stages of the disease.

Does anybody know where I could read more about this? I am an eye doctor for people
and would definitely be interested in learning more about kitty eye conditions.
PM sent ,link has graphic photos, some would not like to see them
 

janded

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First of all i'm glad to say that kitty has survived his eye surgery and is expected to have a full recovery. A great site to visit on glaucoma in cats and dogs is www.animaleyecare.net/diseases/glaucoma.htm. The poor animals experience a greater level in intraocular pressure.Normal pressure for cats, dogs, and humans supposedly is 10-20mmHg. Glaucoma in humans increases the pressure to 20-28mmHg, in dogs and cats the pressure is 45-65mmHg.Good luck to everyone and your pets.
 

janded

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Dear momcat and mom, Norman, my 8 year old male, is recovering fine from surgery. All went well, but we have no guarentee that he won't eventually lose his other eye also. Our family does not have alot of money,but after much soul searching and finding the right vet for the job (one we could afford at $650. our first quote was for $800. and would've been a further car ride which Norman hates). He has drops for pain and will have his stitches out in 2 weeks. To me he will always be a beautiful cat and i think one eye just gives him more character. Hang in there, they're worth it.
 
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nan

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I am so happy to get some feedback from others who have experienced this.
I am sorry that it happened to you all and your beloved cats.
MomCat Rose had her eye removed back in May and is doing quite nicely.
She is a much happier cat now and I am a much happier cat momma.
She came thru her surgery just fine and her recovery was very fast. I am so happy for her as I am for all kitties and their care givers who have had a positive experience.
I will try and add a hyperlink so you all can see her both before and after.
I did not have the money for her surgery so Cats In Crisis helped us fundraise the $410.00 it took to remove the eye. I am so thankful for Cats In Crisis. They are all angels over there. If you want to see MomCat Rose she is in the forum there and there are pix of her too.
Here is the link for that group;Cats In Crisis When you get there click on fundraisers and then MomCat Rose. Her story is there as well as pix before and after. CAUTION!!! Her before picture is quite bad as the eye was huge. She also looks so very sad. But the after picture is very good and she actually looks like she is smiling.
 
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