Does your dog need glasses?

September 30, 2009

If you can't think of a name for your new puppy, how about four-eyes? Though dogs have never been known for their excellent vision, a new company, Doggles, has decided to do something about it.

The company has launched a line of eyewear for dogs, which offers a doggy version of prescription eyeglasses, as well as a line of sunglasses. According to petinfoeducation.com, doggles can also help to prevent wind damage and stop foreign objects from entering dogs' eyes if they ride in the car, (or, more accurately, ride with their heads outside of the car) as well as shield their peepers from UV rays. The doggles are made with eco-friendly materials whenever possible.

So what is normal vision for man's best friend? "If dogs drove cars, they'd have about 20/50 vision and their driver's license would say corrective vision required," Dr. Stanley Coren, author of How Dogs Think: Understanding the Canine Mind, told ABC news. Doggles claim to be especially beneficial to dogs suffering from cataracts.

Veterinarians can determine a dog's prescription by performing a retinoscopy, which is how an ophthalmologist determines the prescription for a child too young to read. After obtaining a prescription, doggles can be made to order, according to the news source.