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Q: I have an 11-year-old cocker spaniel who, for the last several years, has been showing signs of increased blindness. Our veterinarian says she has cataracts. I am leery about surgery and all the complications that might arise. I am wondering if laser surgery is performed on dogs for this condition? Do you have any suggestions on how to improve her eyesight or at least make her senior years more comfortable? -- S.W., via e-mail

A: There are many potential causes of vision loss in an 11-year-old cocker spaniel, with cataracts being only one of them, says Dr. William Miller, a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist and owner of Advanced Animal Eye Care in Memphis, Tenn.

Some causes of vision loss are medically treated, while others require surgery. And sadly, some causes of vision loss have no treatments. Dr. Miller recommends you have a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist examine your dog. Your veterinarian is no doubt providing excellent primary care. But with vision loss, often a specialist is required to provide you with the information you need to make a good decision for your pet. You can locate a veterinary ophthalmologist in your area by going to the Web site of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (acvo.org).

If cataract surgery is indicated, your ophthalmologist can provide you with treatment options. Most cataracts in human and veterinary ophthalmology are removed by small-incision surgery. The opaque lens is liquefied by ultrasonic energy, and the lens material is flushed from the eye. Following removal of the opaque lens, an artificial lens is generally placed in the eye to further improve vision.

An 11-year-old dog is certainly not too old for surgery, providing the blood work is normal and the patient is in good physical shape. If the cataracts are operable, you can expect vision to be improved in 90 percent to 95 percent of patients.

Even in human ophthalmology, cataracts are not removed by lasers. Lasers are used in human ophthalmology to remove scars from the intraocular lens, if that complication occurs.

If your dog's vision cannot be improved, you can still provide her with a comfortable life. Blind dogs can function quite happily in familiar surroundings --don't move the furniture around a lot! -- and can even enjoy outings when kept safely on leash.

The Web sites www.BlindDogs.net and BlindDogs.com are places where owners share tips on keeping these dogs happy. The motto of BlindDogs.net says it all: "Blind dogs see with their hearts."

Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com.