Doglight at the end of tunnel vision

And now, for some great news for dogs and dog-lovers among our readers. British veterinarians may have the solution for aged dogs who find bright sunlight a problem. The fact that dogs after a certain age may find sunlight painful is perhaps not well-known among non-dogs. When a 14-year-old poodle came to vets in Wiltshire, her human companion complained about her 'abnormal behaviour' outdoors. Ultraviolet light was the culprit. The poodle's muscles had weakened with age and the atrophying included the dog's iris. This inability to filter brightness made her 'blind' in bright conditions. This had even led to her jumping in front of a car. This condition was not confined to the old poodle but affects many respectable old dogs. The Alsatian, for instance, susceptible to pannus, a condition that causes inflammation of the eyes, suffers more when exposed to sunlight.

Which is when the good vets from Eastcott Veterinary Hospital came up with a brilliant yet simple plan: not surgery but good old glasses. For the poodle in question, a tinted visor worked wonders and she is now able to lead a 'normal life'. Yes, dogs won't be able to wrap their faces around a pair of Aviators or human issue goggles. But a tinted or dark visor tied around the dog's eyes - an optic collar - does the trick. This is a big deal for dogkind. It's doglight at last.