Ophthalmic Testing for Blindness In Dogs

A complete ophthalmic examination by a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist is critical in diagnosing the cause of a dog's blindness in order to prescribe treatment. A complete ophthalmic examination for your blind dog can include the following tests:

• Ophthalmoscopy - shining a light into the dog's eye, either through the use of an ophthalmoscope or a head lamp, in order to look at the back part of the eyeball
• Pupillary light reflex testing - shining a light into each of the dog's eyes individually to test the pupils' reactions to light
• Slit-lamp biomicroscopy - utilizing a low-power microscope to examine the structures at the front of the eye
• Tonometry - utilizing a hand-held tool that tests the pressure inside the eyeball
• Schirmer tear testing - determines if there is adequate tear production in the eye
• Fluorescein staining of the cornea -orange staining applied to the eye to determine if there is any erosion of the cornea

The use of ophthalmic tests allows the veterinary ophthalmologist to identify the cause of the dog's blindness and allows for the recommendation of an effective course of treatment.