Eye diseases in cats

Eye diseases in cats are just as common as in other animals and even humans. Pets get sick just like their owners. And if they're not cared for properly, health problems only increase. It might seem like a simple draft, just to quickly air out the room. And then bam! The cat is teary-eyed, has a runny nose, and is sneezing and snorting. Wait! Let's figure out what eye diseases cats can have, how to identify their symptoms, and treat your pet properly.

Classification

• Inflammatory
• Non-inflammatory

Inflammatory eye diseases in cats include conjunctivitis, keratitis, keratoconjunctivitis, iritis, inflammation of the nasolacrimal canal (yes, we must not forget that eye diseases in cats also include problems with the canal, orbit and other tissues surrounding the eye), blepharitis, panophthalmitis and others.

Non-inflammatory ones include bruises (and other injuries), a foreign body in the eye, inversion of the eyelid, prolapse of the eyeball, cataracts, glaucoma and others.

The course of the disease can be subacute, acute, or chronic. The symptoms of eye disease in cats do not disappear over time, but only subside slightly. However, this only increases the risk of vision loss or other health problems (especially if the cause of the eye disease is an infection).

Eye diseases in cats can be primary or secondary. Primary eye diseases are when the changes to the eyes are the underlying cause. Secondary eye diseases are when problems with the eyes are caused by a more serious health issue (for example, an infectious disease). In this case, conjunctivitis can be considered a symptom. To treat your pet, it's important to address the underlying condition, not the clinical signs. In any case, consulting a veterinarian is essential.

Now let's briefly go over the main eye diseases in cats.

Types, symptoms and treatment

Below is a classification of eye diseases in cats, symptoms characteristic of each disease, and an approximate treatment plan.

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis in cats - is perhaps the most common eye disease.

Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyelids is called conjunctivitis. There are many types:

• Catarrhal;
• Purulent;
• Ulcerative;
• Follicular.

There are numerous causes for this inflammation. The most common are a foreign body (a grain of sand or a hair, for example) getting into the eye, vitamin deficiency, trauma, and infection. In young children (especially kittens), inflammation from the nasal cavity (a seemingly harmless runny nose) quickly spreads to the eyes. Therefore, they are diagnosed not only with rhinitis, but also with inflammation of the nasolacrimal duct and purulent conjunctivitis.

With conjunctivitis, the mucous membrane of the eyelids becomes red, swollen, and watery. Pus may also appear (though not immediately; initially, it's catarrhal conjunctivitis, which, depending on the cause, gradually or very quickly "transforms" into purulent conjunctivitis).

The first step is to determine what is causing the inflammation. If it's a foreign body, all you need to do is rinse the eye and, to prevent complications, apply tetracycline ophthalmic ointment (always 1% ophthalmic ointment!) to the lower eyelid a couple of times a day. It can be purchased at both veterinary and human pharmacies. It's not a scarce medication and costs next to nothing. It's best to keep it in your medicine cabinet at all times.

Just don't apply it to your finger and then to your eye. This increases the risk of infection (your hands aren't sterile, no matter how much you wash them with laundry soap at home). And don't touch the tip of the tube to your lower eyelid to avoid introducing pathogens into the ointment tube.

So, the next time you apply the product (even if it's not tomorrow), you'll introduce pathogens directly to the inflamed area. And instead of treating your cat or dog's conjunctivitis, you'll just end up reinfecting it.

However, you shouldn't self-medicate as soon as you notice tears in your cat or whitish crusts in the inner corner of the eye. Firstly, this may only mask the symptom while the underlying disease rages on. Secondly, you may misjudge the dosage or even the medication, which could lead to the transition from acute catarrhal inflammation of the eyelid mucosa to chronic, purulent or follicular inflammation. The clinical signs of conjunctivitis in a cat or dog will subside, but they won't disappear. This will inevitably affect visual acuity. Symptoms of purulent conjunctivitis, in addition to yellow crusts in the morning after sleep or obvious yellow (or even greenish) discharge, include an elevated body temperature. This is understandable.

Any purulent inflammation, even the smallest localization, indicates the presence of an infection!

A clinical sign of this condition is a fever. Whether the increase is limited to the affected area or occurs throughout the body depends on your pet's immune system. The weaker it is, the higher the temperature.

Now about follicular conjunctivitis. It's much more complicated. A simple tetracycline ointment or intramuscular antibiotics won't do. The thing is, near third century (It's located in the inner corner, that pinkish "skin" that's normally there.) The lymph nodes become inflamed. They enlarge, swell, and interfere with the animal's ability to blink. Surgery by a veterinarian is essential. After surgery, the doctor will prescribe ointments and injections.

Keratitis

We've covered inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyelids, but what is the name for corneal lesions in cats? Keratitis. It doesn't matter whether it was caused by injury or infection. It might seem difficult to detect any pathology on a transparent cornea, especially if your pet blinks or doesn't even want to open their eyes because they're in pain. However, certain symptoms can help you recognize keratitis in your cat.

This is tearing. With keratitis, tears flow constantly and in large quantities from the affected eye. It's as if the body is trying to "wash out" the infection. The moustachioed eye will try to keep the affected eye closed, and if the room (or even outside) is very bright, it will squint completely. This is called photophobia.

You'll agree, it's very difficult to miss. You can determine whether an infectious disease is the underlying cause of keratitis yourself. If pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria or viruses) are to blame, both eyes are almost always affected immediately. Fungi, on the other hand, are more complicated; they don't immediately spread to the other eye. However, in any case, you should seek veterinary attention as soon as possible.

Without treatment, in almost 100% of cases, conjunctivitis is added to keratitis (since there are plenty of microorganisms in the air) and the pet already has a different disease - keratoconjunctivitis.

In addition to lacrimation and photophobia, clinical signs characteristic of eyelid mucosal inflammation also appear. Pus begins to secrete very quickly.

If the cause of keratitis in a cat is not a wound (a scratch on the cornea can also appear from a foreign body under the eyelid, after a fight), then the transparent shell of the eye stops shining, becomes cloudy, and discharge (often purulent) accumulates in the corner of the eye.

Third eyelid

The nictitating membrane in cats is a unique protective "device" created by nature. If you're considering treating a cat's eye condition—a prolapsed third eyelid—you should first learn about the function of this amazing feature. The nictitating membrane protects the eyes from damage and contact with the cornea. The so-called third eyelid can be seen with the naked eye. This white film in cats is a thin layer of light-colored skin located near the inner corner of the eye.

The membranous membrane (inner eyelid) helps maintain the health of the mucous membranes on the surface of the eye. Besides cats, some other mammals and birds have a similar protective organ.

Eye disease in cats - third eyelid: prolapse is manifested by the following symptoms:

• uncontrollable spasms of the orbicularis oculi muscle (twitching and closing of the eyelids);
• increased lacrimation and redness around the eye;
• purulent or mucous discharge;
• massive formation in the corners of the eyes.

This pathology is similar to an adenoma. It is crucial to distinguish between these feline eye diseases, as misdiagnosis can lead to the development of a dangerous condition called keratoconjunctivitis, which cannot be completely cured.

Third eyelid in cats is a term commonly used to describe a condition—a prolapse of the nictitating membrane—that can be caused by certain medical conditions. Common ones include:

• different types of conjunctivitis;
• injuries that damage the eyes;
• diseases of internal organs (usually the gastrointestinal tract);
• fungal diseases;
• allergies;
• proliferation of internal and external parasites.

If the white film persists, it's time to consult a veterinarian. Early detection and prompt treatment can save your pet's vision, prevent the development of any disease, and perhaps even prevent death.

In a situation where the third eyelid is visibly present in only one eye, it is recommended to check the cat for the presence of pathologies such as:

• a foreign object getting under the nictitating membrane;
• traumatic injuries to the white film, cornea, cartilage or facial nerve;
• symblepharon;
• bacterial inflammation of the eardrum.

It's important to note that a prolapsed eardrum can occur in both eyes. This condition can be caused by:

• bilateral conjunctivitis;
• fusion of part of the third eyelid with the eyeball;
• helminthiasis.

Please remember that only a veterinary specialist can select and prescribe a treatment regimen for cats' eyes. Never prescribe medications yourself, especially if you are using eye drops and ointments intended for humans. The only thing you can do at home is rinse your eyes with warm boiled water or chamomile tea.

Sometimes a prolapsed eardrum will heal on its own within a few hours. If this doesn't happen, surgery will be necessary.

Blepharitis

Blepharitis in cats Blepharitis is simply called inflammation of the eyelid. Blepharitis is also classified as "simple," ulcerative, scaly, and meibomian. If you don't notice that the eyelid is red, swollen, and preventing your cat from opening its eyes, you may not be able to start treatment in time.

Without a proper treatment plan, "simple" blepharitis can easily and quickly develop into ulcerative blepharitis. Initially, a purulent plaque forms along the lash line, and underneath the plaque (or rather, when it begins to fall off), ulcers begin to appear. Treating this is much more difficult.

The pet may try to scratch its eye, which can lead to injury, as claws can easily damage the cornea or the inflamed eyelid. As the purulent plaque and ulcers spread, blepharitis in cats leads to eyelash loss. There's a high risk that the disease will spread to the conjunctiva and the eye itself, leading to the development of a completely different condition—panophthalmitis. And here, you'll need to act quickly if you don't want your pet to lose an eye.

Panophthalmitis

Although extremely rare, such cases do occur. It is a very serious condition, as it affects all tissues of the eye. The symptoms of panophthalmitis in cats and dogs are similar. Initially, the affected eyeball noticeably enlarges, and purulent discharge appears (panophthalmitis always results from an infection, hence the pus).

Unfortunately, saving the animal's eye is impossible. To prevent the infection from spreading to the brain, the affected eye is completely removed, and the eyelids are sutured. To prevent this, avoid ignoring excessive tearing in your pet (even if it's a breed predisposition), and don't spit on the crusted pus in the corners of the eyes or on the fur underneath.

As soon as anything alerts you or you notice any symptoms, consult a veterinary ophthalmologist immediately. Avoid gargling with decoctions, administering antibiotics, or applying anything at all. This will only mask the clinical signs, making it difficult to establish a definitive diagnosis. This will also impact the treatment plan, without which your pet's recovery is impossible.

Cataract

At cataracts in catsThe lens becomes cloudy. This condition is more common in older pets, but it can also develop in young kittens if the cause is an infection. The main symptom you may notice is deteriorating vision. The pet bumps into objects, walks cautiously and slowly, and has poor spatial orientation, especially in new areas.

Having determined the cause of the disease, a veterinary ophthalmologist will prescribe medication. Only if this fails will surgery be performed. Self-medication is extremely dangerous. Firstly, the animal may completely lose vision in that eye. Secondly, if the cause is an infection, panophthalmitis, discussed above, may develop.

Inflammation of the nasolacrimal canals

Another common eye condition in cats. It occurs when the ducts that "connect the eye and nose" (to put it simply) become clogged. Many people don't even know these ducts exist. But if you remember a person crying, you've probably noticed that the discharge isn't just from the eyes, but also from the nose.

A symptom is profuse lacrimation. This can be mistaken for keratitis or conjunctivitis, but no ointment will help. The only way to help the animal is through probing. Yes, this is quite painful, but after the procedure, the cat feels better immediately. Your pet will feel relief literally without leaving the veterinarian's office.

More antibiotics will be prescribed to prevent infection from developing. However, they are usually discontinued after a week, and the cat is re-examined. If all is well, the pet is considered recovered.

Eyelid wounds

They can be superficial (when only a scratch is present), deep (when several layers of skin are damaged), or penetrating (when the entire eyelid is damaged). Cats are much more likely to injure their eyelids than dogs, especially fighters.

If the wound is superficial, it will need to be washed and treated with an antiseptic (at least iodine, but only if the wound is on the outside of the eyelid!). If it is deep or through, then only a veterinarian should be consulted. It will need to be thoroughly cleaned, all foreign particles removed from the wound cavity, and stitches applied. If the wound is through, it is important to ensure that the cornea is not damaged.

Inversion of the eyelid

Most often, the lower eyelid inverts. Its edge curls inward (toward the cornea), which isn't just uncomfortable. It's also very painful. Don't forget about the stiff eyelashes, which rub against the conjunctiva and cornea. As a result, chronic keratoconjunctivitis can easily develop due to inversion (inversion is less common in cats). Only surgery can help, as this is often a congenital condition. The surgery is not very complicated, but it is effective. The inversion is eliminated once and for all.

Glaucoma

There are three types of glaucoma in cats: congenital, open-angle, and closed-angle. This condition causes increased intraocular pressure. A symptom of glaucoma that owners may notice is a severely dilated pupil. The blood vessels can't withstand the pressure and rupture. Hemorrhages are visible both in the conjunctiva and in the eye itself. The eyeball enlarges and becomes very hard (due to the extreme pressure inside).

With open-angle glaucoma, areas of cloudiness are visible on the cornea, and it is virtually insensitive, meaning the reflex is weakened. With closed-angle glaucoma, a cat's cornea displays a ring-shaped, closed corneal opacity, as well as extensive branching of ruptured or dilated blood vessels.

High intraocular pressure in cats affects not only visual acuity but also their overall well-being. It's extremely painful, and treatment requires the help of a veterinarian (ideally an ophthalmologist). The veterinarian will determine the cause. In some cases, medications that dilate the pupil are helpful. However, if the cause of glaucoma in a cat or dog is related to a dislocated lens, surgery is necessary.

This is just a small selection of eye diseases in cats. There are so many types of injuries, burns, and inflammations that it's impossible to cover them all in one article.

Any questions? You can ask our website's staff veterinarian in the comments below, who will answer them as quickly as possible.

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