Asa here. Eye knew it! My eyes deserve a round of applause for listening to my ophthalmologist, Dr. Nick, and doing what was necessary to help my vision! A few months ago, during my regular monitoring for Golden Retriever Pigmentary Uveitis (GRPU), Dr. Nick saw that one of the cysts in my eye was filled with blood, signaling irritation and that my GRPU could be progressing. If left untreated the blood-filled cyst could cause serious vision trouble for me. However, he also said that it was quite possible for the blood to be absorbed back into my body. Chuck Billy isn’t the only member of this family who likes to face a challenge head on, so do my eyes!
Dr. Nick said I needed to use my steroid eye drops twice a day to reduce the inflammation, while continuing to use at bedtime the eyedrops that dilate my eyes to prevent sticking to the cornea and lens. Today I’m happy to announce that at my follow up appointment the blood-filled cyst has deflated! Not only that, he was also pleased to see an ordinary fluid-filled cyst in my other eye had deflated too! Best yet, there were no new cysts, and “no signs of active uveitis noted!” I was so excited that I did a little happy dance right there in the office.
My eyes still aren’t in the clear though. Dr. Nick could detect a little scarring and adhesion in the eye where the blood-filled cyst once was, and a small cataract in my other eye. There is no sign that either is affecting my vision, and he calmed my fears by saying there was a “lack of significant progression.” However, my eyes still need their eyedrops and to be monitored.
For my new friends who may not be familiar with this genetic disease, Golden Retriever Pigmentary Uveitis tends to be diagnosed in Golden Retrievers age 8 or 9 years old. I was young and only 5 years old when I got diagnosed. In fact, for our first eye wellness exam, we all assumed my older brother, Chuck Billy, was the more likely candidate for the disease, considering he has a littermate with GRPU, and was within the age range for onset. But his eyes were fine that day, and continue to be so at his yearly exams. It was me that gave everyone cause for concern.
It was explained to us that benign iris cysts are common in Goldens. An iris cyst originates from the tissue on the back side of the iris, and then breaks loose and floats into the front chamber of the eye, behind the cornea and in front of the iris. These cysts typically do not adversely affect vision, and many dogs go about their life and never have any problems. But there is the chance the cyst could be an early warning sign of something more serious. To put it in terms dogs can relate to, the ophthalmologist explained, all grapes are fruit, but not all fruits are grapes. Ok, so not the best analogy, because I started daydreaming about food and stopped listening for a moment. However, from what I gathered, all cases of uveitis have cysts, but not all cysts are uveitis. So it is important to get regular eye exams from an ophthalmologist, because not all veterinarians do this type of exam in their annual physicals.
As we see with me, early detection is important, along with regular monitoring, and treatment as necessary to slow the progression. Now that my eyes are showing irritation, I am at a higher risk for developing Golden Retriever Pigmentary Uveitis, including its complications of glaucoma and cataract formation. Which as we learned at this visit, a small cataract has formed. Unfortunately, there aren’t any treatments that will resolve the cysts. However, as proof with my eyes, there are medications to minimize complications if detected early. As for the cataract, dogs can receive cataract surgery just like humans. But as long as I show no signs of blurred vision or blindness, my eyes don’t need to worry about that just yet. Therefore I promise to continue using my medications, and going for regular eye exams.
Now as you know, I’m not a doctor nor do I play one on social media. Therefore I can’t answer questions or concerns you may have about your dog. I do recommend having a conversation with your veterinarian and breeder. For us, there is a family history of this genetic disorder. Hence why we had a reason to schedule a wellness eye exam. In fact, if it wasn’t for Chuck Billy’s littermate, we never would have heard of this disease, or got an early screening for me. However, family history or not, it is also good as your dog ages to have the eyes checked anyways. To learn more, we recommend the Morris Animal Foundation’s “In the Blink of an Eye – Understanding Pigmentary Uveitis in Golden Retrievers.”
