From:
sukiec@optonline.com
Date: 2003-04-01 16:09:40 UTC
Subject: RE: Bulging eye, what to ask the vet?
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <15900495.1049213380317.JavaMail.root@scandium>
OH, and...
If it is glaucoma then the nerve damage from that does take sight away. First there is peripheral loss, then the center goes, then the remaining ring of sight goes. It is not unusual for the nasal area peripheral portion to develop blind spots early so since the eye is big enough to visualize this bulge any bits of binocular vision giving depth perception which she had could be already gone. For humans there are options like an assortment of meds or surgery (based upon the individual's needs) so the vet may send you to a veterinary ophthalmologist for an examination there, but I do not know if any of those meds are safe for ferrets or effective for them, nor if their form of glaucoma is a version of glaucoma which is responsive to surgery to improve drainage or even if that surgery is viable for them.
With occular hypertension and glaucoma as possibles the eye pressure is checked, and the area around the optic nerve is looked at for degrees of cupping, to see if there are uneven margins, etc. In humans these are easy things to do but I don't know about the drops available for use in ferrets or their signs.
The vet will look for other options, too.
Does the eye's pupil respond to light?