Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Color pupil reflex test results in two blind dogs with optic nerve
By Santifort, Koen et al.·Published in Veterinary ophthalmology·2026·Evidensia Small Animal Hospital "Hart Van Brabant", Netherlands·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Chromatic Pupillary Light Reflex in Two Dogs With Amaurosis Secondary to Optic Pathway Disorders.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 7-year-old Dachshund and a 7-year-old Weimaraner were brought in for sudden blindness. Both dogs showed signs like dilated pupils and failed tests to see obstacles, indicating serious eye issues. Tests revealed that while their retinas were functioning normally, they had problems in the optic pathways due to brain tumors—one suspected to be a meningioma and the other confirmed as lymphoma. Unfortunately, these conditions can lead to severe complications, and treatment options would depend on the specific diagnosis and overall health of the dogs.
People also search for: dog sudden blindness · Dachshund eye problems · Weimaraner brain tumor treatment
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Chromatic (colorimetric) pupillary light reflexes (cPLR) are reportedly useful in canine neuro-ophthalmology to differentiate sudden acquired retinal degeneration syndrome (SARDS) from optic pathway disease (neurological disorders) causing acute blindness. We report two canine cases with cPLR test results reported to be consistent with primary retinal disease that were subsequently diagnosed with optic pathway (CNS) disease. ANIMALS STUDIED: A 7-year-old Dachshund and a 7-year-old Weimaraner were presented for acute blindness. PROCEDURES AND RESULTS: Both dogs failed obstacle tests, showed absent menace responses, bilateral mydriasis, and absent PLRs with white light in both eyes. The cPLRs were tested using a BPI-50 Precision Illuminator (Retinographics Inc., USA). Both dogs exhibited no PLR with red light (660 nm), and brisk though incomplete pupillary constriction with blue light (465 nm) at 200 kcd/m. Electroretinograms (ERG) of both eyes were normal in both dogs. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed a left-sided cystic extra-axial mass (suspected meningioma) in the rostral cranial fossa in the Dachshund and a lesion affecting the rostral bones of the skull base and optic nerves in the Weimaraner (confirmed lymphoma). CONCLUSIONS: These are the first two reported canine cases with acute, bilateral amaurosis due to optic pathway disease with present blue light-cPLR.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39993949/