Sorry I got waylaid while I was composing the above.
My dog is going on 9 years right now, and we noticed the vision loss about 3.5 years ago, and she got the PRA diagnosis from an ACVO vet (this is the vet, on the top of the page, with the penguin:
http://www.acvo.org/new/diplomates/Dip1.shtml). My dog is pretty much blind now, but I think she still sees motion in good light. I can't remember when and what happened as far as the inflammation and cataracts. The eye pressures went up last spring.
Based on my experience, I am curious why an eye vet would not insist on follow up visits for the PRA diagnosis, so I am going to bring it up with my eye vet. I am concerned that a dog with PRA is not having his eyes cared for, because I am certain my dog would be miserable without the follow up care she has received.
PRA may be a painless disease, but it's sequelae may not be. I do not know the literature, but here you go, from the Canadian Veterinary Journal: "Complete retinal atrophy will develop, and unfortunately the release of degenerative retinal by-products will induce cataract development. Cataracts usually cause phacolytic uveitis, zonular degeneration, and lens luxation; often, secondary glaucoma develops in these dogs. Therefore, we recommend yearly re- examinations by a veterinary ophthalmologist to allow for early diagnosis and medical or surgical management of these common often initially subclinical sequelae."
(
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2696715/)