From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2006-04-05 16:08:54 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] RE: dumb/weird melatonin question
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Lynne, the age factor is possible, or she might have retained enough nerve function that even though there was not sight there may have been light and shadow, or even just general light or general darkness. There are types of blindness where that can occur, but I do NOT know if that would be the case with your ferret.
As I recall Clover's ferret had glaucoma and that destroys the optic nerve if not found in time, or if not responsive to medication.
Not all cases are responsive though these days there are more meds out there for both open and closed angle glaucoma types in humans and some of the current meds do not have as many side effects as old meds, do not need to be used as often, do not sting, and do not conflict with some respiratory disorders, etc. so I hope that is also true for veterinary use. Can meds like Xalatan be used in ferrets?
There is some new work going on for glaucoma which suggests that it might *at times* be a form of autoimmune disease with the pressure in such cases being a side effect rather than original cause.
In humans there is a strong genetic signature for a number of cases of glaucoma, and if this is the case with ferrets it probably pays to cull those lines through neutering rather than breeding them.
Blindness or vision reduction can happen from many types of causes in the eye.
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