Retinal Disorders
The retina is the light-sensing tissue lining the back of the eye. It converts light into the signals the brain interprets as vision — when it's damaged or detaches, vision loss can be sudden and severe.
SARDS / IMR
Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration Syndrome (SARDS) and Immune Mediated Retinitis (IMR) are the retinal conditions we see and treat most often — autoimmune diseases that cause sudden blindness in dogs, most commonly middle-aged, small-to-medium breeds. Our team has pioneered dedicated diagnostic and treatment protocols for SARDS and IMR over more than a decade of research.
Retinal detachment
The retina can also separate from the underlying tissue that supplies it with blood and nutrients — a retinal detachment. Common causes include:
- High blood pressure (systemic hypertension) — a particularly common cause of sudden blindness in cats
- Trauma to the eye or head
- Congenital or inherited retinal abnormalities
- Advanced, chronic inflammatory or infectious eye disease
Retinal detachment is diagnosed with a dilated eye exam and often an ocular ultrasound. When caught early — especially detachments related to blood pressure — vision can sometimes be restored once the underlying cause is controlled.
Signs of retinal disease
- Sudden or rapidly progressive vision loss
- Dilated pupils that respond poorly to light
- Bumping into objects, especially in unfamiliar or dim spaces
Noticing sudden vision changes in your pet?
Retinal disease progresses quickly. The sooner we evaluate your pet, the more options we have.