Yes, you read that correctly. Laser eye surgery, or corrective eye surgery, is available for dogs and other pets. This is often confused with Lasix, a brand name of a diuretic for pets. Dogs often suffer from glaucoma and cataracts as they age, making it difficult and sometimes impossible for them to see.
Glaucoma is caused by too much fluid in the eyes. The increased pressure of the fluid can cause the eyes to become enlarged and can be very painful. In laser surgery for glaucoma, the laser destroys the cells that produce the fluid. Cataracts are hereditary and can also be contracted because of diabetes in dogs. The costs for these laser eye surgeries for your dog is around $5,000.
Dogs with a genetic predisposition for cataract development include the Cocker Spaniel, Poodle, Siberian Husky, Schnauzer, Old English Sheepdog, Samoyed, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Maltese, Boston Terrier, and Yorkshire Terrier. Surgery is the only effective way to remove cataracts, and there is no known preventive measure for cataracts.
These laser eye surgeries aren’t exactly the LASIK procedure that humans receive, but a laser eye surgery that is able to correct vision in dogs is a huge technological breakthrough! If your pet is suffering from glaucoma or cataracts, ask your veterinarian about the possibility of a laser eye surgery.
