Tabby cat
IN PHOTO: "Zane," a tabby cat up for adoption listens to books read by Trey Douglas and Cassandra Kraus during "The Book Buddies Program" at the Animal Rescue League of Berks County in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania February 11, 2014. Children in grades 1-8 read to the cats as a way to improve their reading skills and gain confidence. The shelter animals can be a non-evaluative presence that can provide support and comfort to participants without judging them. Students showed sustained focus and maintained a higher state of awareness, as well as improved attitudes toward school, according to researchers at Tufts University. Photo taken February 11, 2014. Reuters/Mark Makela

The type of house pet owned determines the risk of a person developing glaucoma. Having a dog cuts the risk of acquiring the eye ailment that could lead to blindness, while owning a cat almost doubles the risk.

These animals have allergens that either increase or decrease the chance of having glaucoma, according to a new study by the University of California, Los Angeles, or UCLA. Feline owners who react to their cat’s allergen increase their risk of acquiring glaucoma by 90 percent, while dog owners reduce their chance of developing the ailment by 20 percent, reports The Telegraph.

Glaucoma occurs when the eye’s optic nerves are damaged, often caused by the buildup of pressure inside the eye. If the damage to the optic nerves, which transmits images to the brain, continues, it would result in permanent loss of vision within a few years if the ailment is not treated. Glaucoma is often an inherited condition, although it could also be caused by blunt or chemical injury to the eye, severe eye infection, blockage of blood vessels in the eye, inflammatory conditions and occasional eye surgery to correct another condition, according to WebMD.

The study, published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology, sought to find if eye inflammation could be triggered by pet allergens. The allergens come from the pet’s saliva and secretions when it grooms. It becomes airborne and could be inhaled by the cat or dog’s owner.

Allergic reaction to animals would cause a person’s immunoglobulin E antibody to go up, which leads to itchy eyes, sneezing and congestion. The researchers had 1,678 respondents whose antibody levels were measured after exposure to dogs, cats, cockroaches, dust mites and rodents.

The study found no link between glaucoma and dust mites but found a 2.3 times higher risk when exposed to cockroaches. Previous studies have established that exposure to dogs and its germs and bacteria could be good for the immune system, which appears to include the eyes as well, said Dr Anne Coleman of UCLA.

“The protective effect of dogs could be due to their natural antigens in their dead skin, but might also be because they spend more time outdoors and are happy to get dirty, whereas cats are cleaner animals,” she explains.

Dr David Allamby, who operates the London-based Focus laser eye surgery clinic, adds, “If you are planning on getting a pet but not sure which one, a dog may be the healthier choice. They encourage people to get outside and exercise more.”

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