Case report: Primary bilateral glaucoma with severe buphthalmos in a female domestic cat

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Semnan University, Semnan, Iran.

10.22075/jvlr.2025.38134.1176

Abstract

Glaucoma is one of the most common degenerative eye diseases, characterized by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), and if left untreated, can lead to permanent blindness. This case report presents a 9-year-old female Domestic Shorthair (DSH) cat with a longstanding history of bilateral glaucoma that had gone undiagnosed and untreated since early in life, eventually progressing to an advanced stage. Clinical signs included marked buphthalmos in both eyes, bilateral corneal opacity and fibrosis, mydriasis with absent pupillary light reflexes, a negative menace response, superficial corneal ulcers, pronounced suprascleral vasodilation, and recent onset of ocular discomfort and pruritus—without accompanying blepharospasm. Given the severity of the clinical signs, the owner's inability to pursue medical management, and the risk of further deterioration, bilateral ocular evisceration was elected. Uniquely, despite the pronounced ocular changes, the cat maintained normal appetite and behavior over the years, with no evidence of advanced glaucomatous complications, underscoring the chronic, insidious nature of the disease in this case.

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References

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Journal of Veterinary Laboratory Research
Volume 17, Issue 2 - Serial Number 28
In Progress
October 2025
Pages 155-160

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