Medication to Avoid if Your Pet's Cornea is Damaged
Steroids can delay the healing of corneal ulcers. Do not use ophthalmic medications with steroids such as hydrocortisone or dexamethasone unless specifically instructed by your veterinarian. These ophthalmic medications contain steroids and should be avoided: B.N.P. with Hydrocortisone Triple Antibiotic Ophthalmic Ointment (Rx), Dexamethasone Sodium Phosphate Ophthalmic Solution (Rx), Neo Poly HC Ophthalmic Suspension (Rx), Neo Poly Dex Ophthalmic Suspension (Rx), Prednisolone Sodium Phosphate (Rx), and Prednisolone Acetate Ophthalmic Suspension (Rx).
On the other hand, if your pet has a swollen cornea but no infection and no ulcers, your veterinarian may prescribe steroids to control inflammation. The steroid can be within the ophthalmic medication (such as the medications in the preceding paragraph) or can be systemic-acting steroids, such as Prednisone (Rx).
Many eye injuries are painful, and your pet may be prescribed an analgesic, such as aspirin or Rimadyl (Rx). We recommend the oral homeopathic T-Relief Tablets, which naturally eases pain because it stimulates healing and controls inflammation.
What Happens if the Cornea Does Not Heal Properly?
With the proper medical care, a healthy cornea heals within a week. If your pet does not receive care, or if your pet lacks the ability to heal, his or her body will try to heal the cornea by sending blood vessels from the white of the eye to cross the cornea. These vessels grow about 1 mm/day. The cornea may swell, become cloudy, hazy, and somewhat blue-gray. If bacteria invade, they secrete toxins that erode the cornea creating an ulcer. Without attention, the cornea becomes so cloudy and scarred that light cannot travel through it, and your pet becomes blind. An unhealed cornea is also painful.
Blindness in Dogs and Cats
Blindness is not the end of the road for a pet whose major sense organ is its nose. In addition to their noses, pets use their whiskers to tell them what's up close, and their ears to tell them what's in the surrounding area. If your pet becomes blind, keep the house and yard the same as it was. Do not rearrange the furniture because your pet will run into it until he or she learns where you've placed everything. Protect your blind pet from vehicle traffic by keeping him or her on a leash or in a fenced yard.
Recommended Products for Corneal Ulcers in Dogs and Cats: