Pannus is an immune-mediated progressive eye disease of dogs, particularly German Shepherds, causing corneal vascularisation and pigmentation that can lead to blindness if untreated, but responds well to lifelong topical therapy.
Pannus causes progressive vision impairment that, if untreated, leads to blindness and significantly impairs quality of life. Early-stage pannus is not acutely painful but causes discomfort and increasing vision loss. The good news is that the condition is highly responsive to treatment when started before advanced pigmentation develops: topical ciclosporin and corticosteroids can stabilise the condition indefinitely with regular application. Owner compliance with lifelong twice-daily eye drops is the primary barrier to successful management. Dogs living at altitude or in high UV environments may need more intensive therapy. Regular ophthalmic examinations allow treatment adjustment as seasons and UV exposure change. Breeding affected dogs should be discouraged to reduce hereditary prevalence.