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Long-Term Steroid Eye Drops for Lens-Induced Uveitis in an Old Poodle

by A reader

Reader Question
My 15-year-old Toy Poodle (5 1/2 lbs) fell off the shower seat while I was washing her, but she seemed fine at the time. A few days later I noticed she was rubbing her eye, and I saw some blood in it. She has also had a non-aggressive mammary tumor for almost 2 years, which I chose not to have removed because of her age. I took her to a veterinary ophthalmologist, who said she had a hyphema (blood in the front of the eye). His findings included normal tear production in both eyes, poor vision in the right eye, sluggish pupil responses, redness of the white of the right eye, blood in the front chamber of the right eye, iris thinning in both eyes, early cataracts in both eyes, and low eye pressure in both eyes. His diagnosis was lens-induced uveitis in both eyes, with cataracts in both eyes.

His treatment is a steroid eye drop, one drop in each eye once daily, to be rechecked in 30 days.

1) Is this prescription for her traumatic hyphema, or just for the inflammation in both eyes?

2) Will the blood eventually be absorbed? She has no sight in that eye right now.

3) My pharmacist said this kind of drop is usually prescribed for no more than 10 days, but that is in people, not
dogs. The ophthalmologist said to give it to her forever. Since it's a steroid, I am afraid to put it in both eyes for that long. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated!


Answer from Our Team

The drops are mainly for the inflammation inside both eyes (lens-induced uveitis), which is caused by protein leaking from the cataracts. They also help the eye with the blood settle. Lens-induced uveitis keeps going as long as the cataracts are there, so long-term, low-dose treatment is common in dogs, and the inflammation can cause glaucoma, retinal detachment and pain if it isn't controlled.

The blood often absorbs over days to weeks, although vision in that eye may not come back fully because of the cataract and the inflammation. Your vet will recheck and adjust how often she needs the drops.

Long-term steroid eye drops are generally well tolerated in dogs, with much less effect on the rest of the body than steroid tablets, especially in once-daily doses. The main risk is that they can slow healing of a scratch or ulcer on the eye, so call your vet promptly if she squints or rubs the eye. Ask your vet whether a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drop is an option if you're still worried. Please don't stop the drops without checking with your vet.

See red eyes and blood in the eye.

This is general information, not a diagnosis. Please follow your own vet's advice.

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