Eye Diseases In Cats

When we can no longer see our hands in front of our eyes, it is far from the dark for cats. Her eyes catch the last bit of light and use it. And as sensitive as the cat’s eye is, it is also vulnerable.

The smallest injuries, the most inconspicuous inflammations, but also unrecognized illnesses such as diabetes mellitus, leukosis, or high blood pressure can cost the cat its sight. Any change in the eye must therefore be examined immediately by a veterinarian. Only he can determine whether the change is harmless or serious. Mother Nature usually delivers her masterpiece “Cat’s Eye” without blemish. Congenital eye diseases are rare in cats. Only Persians and Siamese cats are more likely to be born with a predisposition to eye problems. The innate squinting in Siamese does not bother the animals only slightly.

Always Go To The Vet In Emergencies

The situation is different with the rolled-up eyelids (entropion) with which some Persians are born. The edge of the lid and the fine hairs of the lid skin constantly irritate the conjunctiva and cornea, which can become inflamed. The veterinarian must surgically fix this eye defect. Disturbed tear drainage can also be innate in Persians. You can see the less than beautiful tear trails that run from the inner corners of the eyes along with the nose to the little mouth, but also in animals that have had a cat cold. Most cat flu pathogens also attack the eyes. If this leads to inflammation of the tear points, and the drainage of the tears, these can become blocked. Theoretically, one could surgically open the tear ducts – but these operations are rarely successful because these structures are very fine and delicate. In the case of a cat cold, the eyes should therefore always be treated at the same time. Various ointments and drops protect the eyes from permanent damage. Important: Never use old products or leftovers that are in your medicine cabinet! On the one hand, eye medication expires quickly, and on the other hand, the medication must be tailored precisely to the disease – for example, cortisone ointments, which are good for allergic conjunctivitis, lead to ulcers in corneal injuries. So please only use the medicines that your veterinarian has prescribed for you.

Catfights often result in injuries to and around the eye from claw hits. These and other injuries, e.g. caused by foreign objects, are always emergencies that must be treated immediately by a veterinarian. Because even the smallest scratches are infected and cause purulent inflammation that can lead to loss of sight or the entire eye. In the very first pinch, you can try irrigating the eye and keeping it moist until you get to the vet. However, since the cat will usually resist the first aid measures, do not linger too long with these attempts, but go straight to the vet. Acid burns are an exception to this rule. In these cases, rinsing the eye thoroughly with water for a long time (half an hour would be ideal) is the most important measure. You can protect yourself from your cat’s claws by wrapping the animal in a towel, if at all possible you should have a one-second person assist.

Cataracts Can Be Congenital

Not only injuries to the eye directly, but also in the vicinity of the eye are dangerous because the pus pathogens can migrate through the tissue to the eye. If the eyelids are injured, they can no longer protect the eyes and keep them moist. Glaucoma is a special emergency. In it, the intraocular pressure increases for a variety of reasons (e.g. inflammation, adhesions, or tumors). The increased pressure damages several structures of the eye and can lead to permanent blindness. Signs of glaucoma are enlargement of one or both eyes and one or both eyes: dilated pupils, cloudy, milky corneas or lenses. Persians and Siamese appear to be particularly prone to glaucoma. The cataract is a clouding of the lenses. It can be congenital, especially in Persians and Persian hybrids, but it can also result from injuries, inflammation, glaucoma, or metabolic disorders (diabetes mellitus). Poor nutrition (e.g. too little arginine for puppies) can also lead to a cataract. In addition to Persians, Himalayan and Burmese cats also seem to be prone to cataracts. Some eye diseases develop slowly and are therefore often not noticed until late. They are often the result of other diseases. The already mentioned diabetes mellitus not only damages the lens of the eye but also leads to poorer blood circulation in the eye and can thus result in detachment of the retina. Kidney damage can also cause these circulatory disorders, as they increase blood pressure.

Leukosis, an infectious disease caused by viruses, can damage the eyes directly and indirectly. In some cases, leukemia symptoms only appear in the eyes, while the cat otherwise appears healthy. A change in the eyes that is not a symptom of eye disease but serious nerve damage is Horner’s syndrome. He has one pupil reduced and one eyeball is deeper in the eye socket. Eye trembling can also indicate nerve damage – please go to the vet in both cases. Finally, the symptom that occurs frequently and can mean anything: the nictitating membrane prolapse. The nictitating membrane or the third eyelid is located in the inner corner of the eye and can also be seen there. But usually, it is only noticed when it protrudes, i.e. covers a larger part of the eye than usual. A prolapsed nictitating membrane is associated with almost all eye diseases. But it can also indicate other illnesses, from worm infestation to serious general illnesses, everything is in there – even if there is nothing bad behind it and it will disappear on its own. Only the veterinarian can provide certainty here and in all other cases. Therefore, do not hesitate to visit him immediately if your house tiger’s eyes are “somehow different” than usual.

Eye Control

At least once a day you should take a very close look at your cat’s eyes and the area around them. Don’t stare directly into the cat’s eyes, but pretend you’re looking at the bridge of its nose or ears, for example. Because cats interpret staring into their eyes as aggression – and your cat would react to this by fleeing or attacking.

Signs of problems with the eyes are

• cloudiness
• photophobia
• constant blinking
• tears
• pollution around the eyes
• swelling
• redness
• rubbing and scratching
• different-sized pupils
• eye trembling