Cat eyes have a special mesmerising capability and feline owners know it best. However, this beautiful organ in a cat can face problems that human eyes face too. If you are worried about the common eye problems that cats may face, you have reached the perfect page.
Through this guide, we promise to provide you with tips to find the type of problem and the solution for the same. The most common eye issues found in cats are conjunctivitis, keratitis, corneal ulcers, glaucoma, cataracts, and entropion.
The information here will give you a sense of relief while dealing with such delicate pets. Read on!
- Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is a type of infection that affects a region called conjunctiva in a cat’s eye. This is not restricted to humans only. However, many symptoms in cats in this case imitate the ones in humans.
Otherwise called pink eye, if your cat sports watery eyes, discoloration, swelling in the eyeball, or sticky eye discharge, then it is probably conjunctivitis. Bacterial infections, allergens, and other viruses are carriers of this problem in cats. Cats are prone to both bacterial or viral infections in the eyes. It is critical to be able to recognise the signs and symptoms of the infection.
Sometimes, cats also begin to excessively squint or blink when affected by pink eyes. If left untreated, cats feel worse pain that will be troubling and can cause other effects. Hence, take them to a vet once you begin seeing the repetitive symptoms mentioned.
- Corneal Irregularities
The Cornea is the part through which light passes in an eye. The ways to damage a cornea in cats are huge. Most often it is through eye trauma or an injury. If you find your cat rubbing their eyes violently, then its corneas likely get damaged. Moreover, frequent fights with other animals end up in corneal injuries.
Otherwise, your cat can also have corneal deformities by birth. Also, when their eyes don’t produce enough tears, the cornea becomes stressed. You can find such corneal problems through tell-tale symptoms like cloudy eyes, eye pain, squinting, redness, and even discharge.
Usually, these symptoms mean a lot of other eye issues. Hence, your vet will determine if it is an ulcer and provide treatment through medicines. In rare cases, surgery might be the only option to prevent blindness.
- Glaucoma
When the fluid accumulated inside your cat’s eyeball doesn’t exit properly, eye pressure develops resulting in glaucoma. This again occurs due to trauma, infection, and inflammatory issues.
Usually, cats affected by glaucoma have watery and red-colored eyes. Their tear production increases and sometimes clear eyes are no longer visible. Whatever may be the symptom, your cats will never be the usual as they are in too much pain. Several medications help drain the fluid from eyeballs and help revamp normalcy.
- Cataract
Cataracts are significant through the presence of cloudy eyes. The lens in the middle of the eye will have an excessive clouding effect and does not allow the light to reach the end of the eye. This prevents cats from having a complete vision and sometimes blindness starts setting in depending on the development.
Himalayan and Persian cats are the most susceptible to cataracts and other diabetic cats too can get cloudy lenses. Usually, cataracts happen due to injury, glaucoma, and lens luxation.
Medical intervention is not mandatory till the vision becomes severely poor. Other affected cats learn to engage in their daily activities without many issues.
- Keratitis
Bacterial and viral infections are the major source of keratitis in cats. Corneal inflammation will give away the presence of this common eye complication. While it sounds simple, with no treatment, cats can become blind.
Signs to look out for are swelling, redness, squinting, and discoloration of the eyes. Many times, you will find your cat shying away from bright sources of light. Antibiotics or antivirals are the solutions here. Viruses will take time and proper medication is necessary for preventing their return.
You could also help prevent keratitis from happening again by following advice given by your vet to keep your cat comfortable.
Final Thoughts
Cats are also susceptible to usual eye troubles owing to various causes. Commonly, injuries, infections, irregularities during birth, and other mass formations will disturb the vision in cats. You can have a closer look at their eyes to find out the hassle easily.
However, many symptoms are similar for all these problems and you have to pay a visit to your vet to bring quick relief to your feline friend. Thus, it is better to be safe than sorry when it is a matter of eyes as blindness is worse!