What are the common cat eye problems?

Cats are very independent creatures but they need some help from time to time. Cats are susceptible to a number of minor and chronic diseases particularly related to their eyes. They may seem very distressing to your feline friend but understanding their causes and symptoms can help ease your anxiety. Common cat eye problems include the following:

Conjunctivitis

It involves inflamed eye membrane with causes related to infections like herpesvirus (FHV-1) or chlamydophila. Symptoms include redness of the eye, irritation and flow of discharge from the eye. Serous Conjunctivitis is not so serious and shows minimal swelling and redness because of dirt or debris and allergies. Purulent Conjunctivitis may show signs of bacterial infection like pus in the discharge and thick layers impairing vision. It is important to treat it quickly otherwise there may be permanent vision loss.

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Keratitis

This is an eye problem that displays symptoms including an inflamed cornea within the cat’s eye often involving ulcers or lesions. Felines living at higher altitudes appear to be at a greater risk of developing it. It may be caused by antigens of viral diseases, certain white blood cells or death of a small part of the cornea.

Third Eyelids

There is a third eyelid within a cat’s eye, which may become visible at time, retracting when viewing sudden motion or example. Like any other eye part, when it gets inflamed, injured or diseased, it changes form physically. So, this nictating membrane becomes opaque near the inner corner of the eye as a protrusion. Horner’s syndrome involves a sunken eye or a smaller pupil due to infection or cancer, which is untreatable yet. Haw’s Syndrome consists of a temporary protrusion associated with a problem of the digestive system. 

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Cataracts

The vision is seriously impaired due to the formation of an opaque film all over the front of the eye lens. This is more common in older cats and has an increased risk in diabetic felines. The best option is to remove the natural lens within the eye and replacing it with an artificial one.

Glaucoma

This is caused by inflammation, cancer, cataracts, injury or infection and occurs due to a greater build up of pressure within the eye ball, causing it to swell. The fluid present naturally has imbalanced flow and the arterial blood flowing constantly is hindered from entering the retinal area. As a result, the cornea starts to become opaque reducing visual clarity. Quick action is required to provide relief through prescribed drugs.

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Bulging eye

Bulging of the eye refers to the swelling of the cat’s eye to unnatural proportions causing pain and other serious vision problems. If something pierces or hits the eye in an accident, then bulging eye may occur. It could also occur due to cancerous growth within the eye causing it to swell.

Retinal disease

The retina is the integral part of the eye, which contains special cells that capture light, and they perform an important function in creating the final vision viewed through the eye. Any infection, disease or injury that damages or deforms the retinal cells will cause severe optical problems.

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Watery eyes

The overproduction of tears within the glands tasked to create them for specific purposes may cause watery eyes. In other cases, the tear ducts may become blocked. This leads to tears running down the eyes without any reason and affecting the skin around the eyes.