A cherry eye is the prolapse of the gland of the third eyelid. The appearance is a red lump at the inner eyelid corner. The cause of this condition is unknown but it is common in certain breeds. Breeds that are predisposed include Basset Hound, Maltese, Beagle, British Bulldog, Australian Bulldog, Cocker Spaniel, Rottweiler, Shih Tzu and Neapolitan Mastiff.
“Normal” eyelid conformation for dogs is taken to be an almond shaped palpebral fissure (eyelid opening) with the lids resting on the globe and a small amount of scleral show (white area outside the cornea) on the outside corner but none nasally.
What is entropion?
Entropion is an eyelid abnormality where the eyelid edge rolls in and onto the cornea. Often the hair on the skin margin will contact the clear window of the eye called the cornea. If this occurs then the cornea can develop an ulcer on the surface. All corneal ulcers are painful and immediate veterinary advice is required.
Dogs normally have an upper and lower tear duct openings. These look like two little oval slits near the inside corner of the eyelids.
The normal lens is suspended in the eye by zonules (see picture). The zonules can degenerate and the lens can become loose for a variety of reasons, especially after uveitis (inflammation in the eye) or glaucoma (if the eye becomes enlarged), but the most common form of lens luxation is a primary, inherited condition.
What they are
Extra eyelashes are eyelashes that grow from small glands in the eyelid edges. These glands normally produce a fatty substance that helps lubricate the eyeball, but in some cases grow eyelashes. Extra eyelashes are also known as distichia – a double row of lashes.
