Ocular Manifestations of Endocrine Disease

Small animal patients with endocrinopathies are at risk of developing many ophthalmic conditions resulting from endocrine hormone imbalances. Diabetic animals frequently develop cataracts but can also have numerous other ocular problems, including uveitis, keratopathy, retinopathy, and the effects of lipid derangements and systemic hypertension. Cushing's patients can develop complications from hyperlipidemia and hypertension and sometimes present with corneal disease. Acute blindness from sudden acquired retinal degeneration has been associated with disease of the pituitary-adrenal axis. Growth hormone disturbances can result in the secondary ocular effects of hypertension or of thyroid deficiency (e.g., corneal infiltrates, decreased tear production, neurologic dysfunction). Hyperthyroid animals can present with the ocular manifestations of systemic hypertension. Disorders of calcium homeostasis are unusual, typically manifesting as cataracts in hypocalcemic patients or as metastatic calcification of the ocular tissues.