05/19/2026
Certain fungal infections can have serious effects throughout the body, including the eyes. Below is an overview of blastomycosis, a fungal disease seen in many parts of the United States — including Western North Carolina — and how it can impact ocular health.
Blastomyces is a species of fungal spore that lives primarily in moist ground and decaying wood. Breathing in this spore can cause an infection in the body called blastomycosis. Blasto is most commonly found in the midwest, around the Great Lakes, the Ohio & Mississippi River Valleys, and Western North Carolina. Most often blasto infects the respiratory system, but it can also manifest as skin lesions. In either type, the eye can also be affected.. When blasto organisms enter the eye, it causes severe inflammation. Due to the severity of the inflammation, it can quickly lead to secondary glaucoma, retinal detachment, cataract formation, and permanent blindness. Blastomycosis in the eye can also cause the formation of granulomas, which are clusters of immune cells that are created when the body is attempting to fight, but is unable to eliminate foreign material - such as blasto spores. These granulomas can retain traces of the infection and put the body at risk of reinfection later in the patient's life. Because of this, it may be recommended that blind eyes be removed. In the cases in which the infection is caught and treated before the eye goes blind, some ophthalmologists will inject the affected eye(s) with a strong anti-fungal agent in an attempt to save the eye and reduce the risk of the retained eye causing reinfection in the body at a later date. Long term use of oral anti-fungals is required to treat blastomycosis. Most canines are exposed to blastomycosis at some point in their lifetime; it is unknown why some dogs will develop a systemic infection while other dogs do not.
Because blastomycosis can progress rapidly and permanently affect vision, early diagnosis and treatment are extremely important. Call Blue Ridge Veterinary Eye Specialists at 828-656-3937 today to schedule your pet's ophthalmic evaluation!
