| Cataracts and Nuclear Sclerosis |
Why are my pet's eye's cloudy?
Ocular degeneration and decreased clarity can occur from many causes including: age, nutrition, UV (ultraviolet) light exposure, certain diseases (e.g. Diabetes Mellitus), trauma, etc...
Cataracts and lenticular sclerosis (sometimes called nuclear sclerosis) are two of the most common eye problems seen in dogs over the age of 9. Both of these cause visual impairments in pets. Some estimates show the prevalence of lenticular sclerosis at 50% in dogs over 9 years of age and 100% in dogs over the age of 13.
Wikipedia Links: Cataract, Lenticular Sclerosis.
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In a multi-veterinary hospital clinical study of cataract and lenticular sclerosis conditions in several animal species,
83%
showed a measurable reduction in opacity with Ocluvet.
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Active Ingredients
L-Carnosine
- A powerful antioxidant
- Immediate neutralizes free radicles and is a glycosylation and protein cross-linking inhibitor.
N-Acetyl L-Carnosine
- Provides the same activity as L-Carnosine but remains within the cells much longer
L-Taurine
- Anti-oxidant, detoxifying activity
- Help to stabilize cell membranes
- Modulation of cellular calcium levels
Glutathione
- The most important and powerful anti-oxidant in the lens
- Critical for protecting protein and in DNA repair
Cysteine Ascorbate
- A water soluble source of Vitamin C and l-cysteine
- Necessary for the metabolism of glutathione
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Is it easy to use?
Yes. Typically use of administrating one drop into each eye three times daily for an initial loading period of 8 weeks. Once improved clarity has been noted, the frequency is reduced to one drop every day or one drop every other day for maintenance.
What changes should I expect to see during the initial 8 weeks of use?
Some of the changes will depend upon the level of lens changes and clinical signs that were initially seen prior to starting the medication. Of course the main sign that you will be looking for will be the reduction of the white opacity within the lens. It should be noted that may times, this change will only be noticed towards the end of the 6-8 week loading phase - so have patience!
You may also notice an increased brightness or luster to your pet's eyes with this medication as the anti-oxidants help with the function and health of more than just the lens of the eye. Also look to see if your pet's vision to improve. Many people will notice the improvement most easily at night and evening.
There seems to be particles in the eye drops. Is this normal?
Yes. A couple of the natural antioxidant nutrients will be in a solid state at room temperature but will turn to a liquid phase at body temperature. Sometimes this causes a few seconds of squinting while the particulate matter melts and is absorbed.
I see cheaper versions online. Do I need Ocluvet?
Ocluvet is different for two reasons. First it has six antioxidants that work together. Second it is the only one that has undergone testing with veterinary ophthalmologists to show an efficacy of 83% Click on the official Ocluvet website for the details with regard to these studies. Some of the information has been collected from 23 different veterinary clinics across the United States.
What are the side effects and negative aspects of Ocluvet?
There are some pets that have had some eye irritation with the drops. All signs appear to resolve when the drops are discontinued. Usually the only irritation has to do with the fact that a couple of the ingredients are of a particulate matter until they can melt with the body's temperature. The most common complaint with the medication however is cost. While expensive, most people find this supplement worth it. When compared to the cost of cataract surgery, the cost of the bottle seems much less.
Should I use drops or go with surgery?
This is an answer that should be made by you and your veterinarian. As a general rule, those pets will full cataracts might want to consider surgery and those that are dealing with lenticular sclerosis might want to consider the drops.
Is Ocluvet effective for both cats and dogs?
Ocluvet has been recommended in use of dogs, cats, birds and some exotic pets.
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| Click here for Official Ocluvet Site |
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| Click here for Official Ocluvet Brochure |
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So what kind of studies were done on Ocluvet? I am just not convinced.
Two clinical trial have been performed on Ocluvet on pets with lens opacity which ranged from nuclear sclerosis to hypermature cataracts.
One study was performed at the University of Cambridge and showed that 82% of the patients on Ocluvet showed a "measurable reduction in opacity."The opthalmologist also noted that "owner evaluation of visual capability suggested improvement in vision in 80% of cases.
The other study was performed in the United States and included 23 different veterinary hospitals. They reported that 83% of the pets on Ocluvet showed a "measurable reduction in opacity."
One important note: 100% of the pets with nuclear sclerosis showed improvement with Ocluvet in both studies.
For more information on these studies please visit www.ocluvet.com
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