PubMed ID: 18435657
Author(s): Jacobi S, Dubielzig RR. Feline primary open angle glaucoma. Vet Ophthalmol. 2008 May-Jun;11(3):162-5. doi: 10.1111/j.1463-5224.2008.00614.x. PMID 18435657
Journal: Veterinary Ophthalmology, Volume 11, Issue 3, 2008
OBJECTIVES We have documented the histomorphological features of feline primary open angle glaucoma.
DESIGN A retrospective morphologic study of eight affected eyes from eight cats, from 1992 to 2006 extracted from a pathology collection, which includes 4000 feline submissions and 1100 cases of feline glaucoma.
PROCEDURE Sections of affected globes, stained with H&E or with alcian blue were examined with a light microscope. Eyes that did not fulfill the criteria for primary open angle glaucoma were excluded from the study.
RESULTS The mean age was 9.1 years. Five cats were female and three cats were male. The breeds included five DSH, two Burmese, and one DLH cat. Significant histomorphological findings included an open irido-corneal angle with an open ciliary cleft in all cases, loss of ganglion cells in eight of eight cases, cupping and gliosis of the optic nerve head in four of four cases in which the optic nerve was adequately sampled, and myxomatous changes of the stroma surrounding the vortex veins in seven of eight cases.
CONCLUSIONS Primary open angle glaucoma in cats is a rare disease that should be taken into consideration when investigating cases of feline glaucoma. The pathogenesis of aqueous outflow obstruction in these cases is not known. This study describes eight additional cases of feline primary open angle glaucoma in cats without an identified cause.