Categories: Pets

Cat Eye and Vision Care: Signs, Symptoms and Treatment of Cat Eye Ailments

Cat eye care is important when it comes to maintaining the overall health of your cat. Feline eye problems can be the sign of anything from allergies and upper respiratory infection, to fatal aliments such as the feline leukemia, feline AIDS and feline infectious peritonitis (FIP).

Proper vaccination against these fatal diseases is essential when it comes to assessing the source of cat eye problems. Both visual and behavioral signs need to be considered: swelling, discharge, squinting, bulging, or excess itching and pawing of the eyes all can indicate infection.

Some common eye and vision problems include:

cataracts

injuries to the cornea (thus resulting in ulcers)

deterioration of the retina

glaucoma

herpes conjunctivitis

displacement of the eye gland

blocked ducts

bacterial infections (such as staphylococcus)

lacerated eyelids

Swelling of the conjunctiva coupled with cloudy discharge can be the signs of herpes conjunctivitis. This is a very common and highly contagious infection. Herpes conjunctivitis (or more commonly known as “pink eye”) often comes as part of an upper respiratory infection, and the amount of damage the virus causes depends on the cat’s immunity. Some cats can heal very quickly, while others can suffer staphylococcal infections, glaucoma, permanent scarring, and blindness as result.

Treatment can sometimes take up to six weeks, depending on severity. Cats are instructed to be on both topical antibiotics (to prevent any secondary infection) as well as L-lysine, which is an oral medication that aids in ceasing viral replication.

Although here is a vaccine for the feline herpes virus, during treatment it is important to keep the eye clean by using a topical solution. The solution should be used to remove pus and ocular discharge several times a day before adding any topical antibiotic to the eye.

A cat eye ailment such as cataracts can be caused either by heredity or diabetes, though it also is not an uncommon occurrence in older cats. Often the cat’s eye will appear cloudy when light is shined upon it. The quality of your cat’s vision can be impacted, yet depending on the severity, the cataract can be removed if it seems that blindness might result.

Cat eye ailments such as lacerated corneas can result when the cat’s eye is scratched after having been in a fight. Also, if your cat still has its claws, keep them clipped so the cat does not risk scratching its own eye.

Ulcers can result from lacerated corneas and this can be painful for the cat. Surgery might be needed as well as antibiotics. It is also important to keep the eye cleaned regularly. The veterinarian will likely issue a head collar during treatment as a means of preventing the cat from pawing its own eyes.

If your cat’s eye appears to be bulging outward, this could be the sign of glaucoma. Treatment should be sought immediately. Excess pressure in the eye causes it to protrude, and this can be extremely painful. If you notice your cat is also not as active, this could be due to the pressure pain the cat is feeling. A veterinarian needs to assess the situation immediately, and if glaucoma is the cause, surgery will need to occur as a means of preventing the glaucoma from spreading into the other eye.

It is important that owners learn the steps towards cat eye health, and realize that many of these infections can cause permanent damage to the eye, thus resulting in a lifelong need of aftercare. Lubricating eye drops, regular follow up exams and cleaning the area several times a day by use of a topical solution are all common practices of aftercare.