Veterinary Eye Institute

👁️ What is a Resorbed Cataract in Dogs? 🐶

A resorbed cataract occurs when a cataract has been present long enough that the lens begins to break down and shrink inside the eye. Over time, the body attempts to “clean up” the damaged lens material, but this process can lead to significant inflammation and permanent changes inside the eye.

Signs a pet may have a resorbed cataract can include:
✨ Cloudy, wrinkled, or irregular appearance inside the eye
✨ Vision loss or bumping into objects
✨ Redness or discomfort
✨ Squinting or increased tearing
✨ A smaller or abnormal-looking pupil

Why does this matter?
When a cataract progresses and resorbs, it may trigger lens-induced inflammation (uveitis) and can increase the risk of complications such as glaucoma, retinal disease, or chronic eye pain. Even if vision cannot be restored, monitoring and treatment may still be important to maintain comfort and preserve the health of the eye.

Early ophthalmic evaluation gives us the best opportunity to discuss treatment options and long-term management.

🐾 If you notice changes in your pet’s eyes, schedule an ophthalmic examination—subtle changes can represent significant disease.

📢 CALLING ALL OC, LA AND SAN DIEGO COUNTY VETERINARIANS. Join us July 9th for an evening of learning, networking and dinner (of course)! Dr. Amanda Wimms, from VEI Anaheim, will be presenting "Save Your Tears". You will earn 1 RACE-approved CE credit while going some "pearls" about animal ocular surface health. Scan the QR code to register and we hope to see you all there!

.wimms.dacvo, VEI Anaheim and Dr. Sara Calvarese, VEI Upland collaborated to help these fluffy friends! Did you know VEI doesn't only see dogs and cats? We see all feathered, scaled and hooved creatures too.

🐱👁️ Anterior Segment Dysgenesis (ASD) in Cats
A rare congenital eye condition that affects how the front part of the eye develops.

At VEI Upland, we occasionally diagnose conditions that animals are born with—and Anterior Segment Dysgenesis is one of them.

The anterior segment includes important structures at the front of the eye such as the cornea, iris, lens, and drainage angle. When these structures do not form normally before birth, cats can develop changes that may affect vision and eye comfort.

🔎 Signs owners may notice:
• Cloudy or blue appearance to the eye
• Misshapen or irregular pupil
• Visible changes in iris color or shape
• Squinting or eye discomfort
• Vision changes
• Enlarged eye if secondary glaucoma develops

🐾 Why early evaluation matters:
Some cats with ASD remain comfortable with minimal vision impact, while others may develop complications like glaucoma or corneal disease that require ongoing monitoring and treatment.

💡 Fun Eye Fact:
Because ASD develops before birth, many affected cats adapt incredibly well and may not realize their vision is different!

If your cat’s eyes have looked unusual since kittenhood—or you’ve noticed changes over time—an ophthalmic exam can help determine the cause.

An eyelid mass can appear as a small bump, lump, or thickening along the eyelid and is often benign (such as a cyst or chalazion).

However, any new, persistent, or changing lesion should be evaluated to rule out more serious conditions and to guide appropriate treatment.

Early assessment helps protect both eyelid health and vision.

If you notice a new eyelid mass, schedule an eye exam for proper evaluation.

The arrows are depicting one of many distichia in our patient, Oliver. Distichia are aberrant hairs arising from meibomian gland openings that line the eyelids. These hairs are sometimes an incidental finding and don’t cause any issues and sometimes can cause irritation (excessive tearing and development of ulcers/corneal irritation). Oliver has been scheduled for surgery to address these hairs via cryotherapy (freezing of the hair follicles) as well as closure of his medial canthus to decrease corneal exposure and hairs rubbing on the cornea.

Snowy’s story is a great example of why second opinions and individualized care matter.

At 11 years old, this sweet American Eskimo dog was initially advised to monitor his eyelid masses rather than pursue surgery because of his age. One of the masses on his left eye was previously debulked elsewhere, but unfortunately it grew back. Over time, the growths began progressing rapidly and started affecting his comfort and quality of life.

Snowy ultimately underwent a more extensive surgical procedure with Dr. Christine Boss at VEI Orlando, to remove the masses. Even with a more involved surgery, he recovered incredibly well and was healing beautifully just two weeks later.

Senior pets can often tolerate procedures better than many people expect, and Snowy is proof that age alone should never be the only factor in decision-making. We’re so happy to see him feeling better!

Diagnosis for this horse seen today is a stromal abscess.

Owners recently acquired this 3 year old horse and seller stated the cloudiness was from an ulcer. At some point this ulcer healed over and topical steroids were prescribed to address discomfort noted. Stromal ulcers form from bacteria and fungus (common in horses especially in Florida) becoming trapped in a cornea from a previous wound that healed over. Management for this case is aggressive topicals including broad spectrum antibiotics, antifungals, mydriatics (to control spasming of the pupillary muscles and help decrease intraocular inflammation) and oral anti-inflammatories for pain.

It’s world otter day!!

Did you know otters can actually change the shape of their eye lenses to help them see underwater? 🦦👀 These incredible adaptations allow otters to have clear vision both on land and while diving for food!

Fun Facts About Otter Eyes 👀🦦

* 🦦 Otters can see clearly underwater and on land
Their eyes are specially adapted to focus in both environments, helping them hunt fish and navigate rivers.

* 👁️ Otters can change the shape of their lenses
Their eye lenses become rounder underwater to help focus clearly while swimming and hunting fish. This special adaptation allows them to see much better underwater than humans can!

* 🌊 They have a protective third eyelid
Otters use a translucent membrane called a nictitating membrane like built-in swim goggles to protect their eyes underwater.

* ✨ Their pupils adjust quickly
Otters often move between bright sunlight and murky water, so their pupils can rapidly adapt to changing light conditions.

* 🐟 Whiskers + vision = perfect hunting team
Even when visibility is poor, otters combine sharp eyesight with highly sensitive whiskers to detect movement in the water.

* 🌙 Otters can see well in low light
Many otters are active at dawn and dusk, so their eyes are adapted for dim lighting conditions.

* 💙 Sea otters carefully groom around their eyes
Healthy fur helps keep them warm, and grooming keeps debris away from their sensitive eyes.