Eye problems in cats should never be ignored and are best treated as soon as they surface, often signalling health concerns that should be treated immediately. When your cat’s eyes appear red and puffy with gunk, make an appointment with your veterinarian immediately – as eye issues could indicate serious health problems that require early treatment to minimize complications later.
Scheduling regular wellness exams and regularly checking your cat’s eyes for changes is important in maintaining good cat health practices, such as feeding high quality meat-based diets, keeping vaccinations up-to-date, and keeping cats indoors as this will help prevent most eye issues in cats.
Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis, more commonly known as pink eye, is a prevalent condition wherein one or both eyes become red or pink with watery or sticky discharge. You may experience symptoms including itching and the sensation of something being lodged in your eye; runny nose and sneezing may also occur. Conjunctivitis infections may be caused by either viruses or bacteria and symptoms can vary significantly; viral conjunctivitis often resembles the symptoms associated with colds; contagiousness easily spreads easily from hand to handkerchiefs while bacterial conjunctivitis is usually characterized by crusting or pus formation on contacts between towels/handkerchiefs etc.
Antibiotics are the go-to treatment for bacterial conjunctivitis, and should be started as soon as a suspected infection is suspected. Wash your hands often and use disposable towels or cloth handkerchiefs that you do not share to reduce contamination risk to your eyes. Lubricating drops or cool washcloths may help relieve itching or discomfort; while Ibuprofen or similar NSAID medications may temporarily relieve pain and swelling – though only temporarily.
Corneal Ulcers
Left untreated, corneal ulcers can quickly cause irreparable eye damage and require medical intervention to reverse. They usually affect one eye at a time and usually present with pain in that eye, often appearing like blisters or open wounds on the cornea’s surface. Signs include severe eye pain, feeling that something is in one’s eyes, yellow discharge from eyes. Corneal ulcers constitute medical emergencies requiring immediate treatment to prevent permanent damage to one’s vision.
Treatment will depend on the cause of an ulcer. Antibiotic drops or ointment may help control infection and heal it faster; otherwise, your veterinarian may scrape and culture the ulcer to determine what’s causing it. Other remedies could include using an Elizabethan collar bandage (Elizabethan collar) to protect from self-trauma; applying artificial tears into eyes to lubricate them as needed, treating an underlying health condition such as dry eyes or an autoimmune disease; as well as prescribing medication specifically tailored towards treating herpes viruses associated with corneal ulcers if necessary.
Eye Infections
Many of the same conditions that affect other parts of your cat’s body may also manifest themselves in its eyes. Any change in eye appearance or behavior should prompt you to contact a veterinarian; early discovery of issues often leads to better outcomes than allowing problems to develop further.
Infections most commonly affect the conjunctiva, a thin membrane lining the outer surface of the eyeball. Redness in the whites of eyes often accompanies discharge ranging from clear and watery to yellow or green in hue; excessive blinking and light sensitivity may also indicate infection.
An infection of the cornea can result in ulcers, which appear as painful open sores on its surface. Ulcers may be caused by chronically dry eyes, hereditary conditions or injuries and in severe cases can necessitate surgery by your veterinarian.
Eye Trauma
There are numerous diseases and conditions that can threaten a cat’s eye health, from viral infections like feline herpes and leukemia to diabetes and hyperthyroidism which may all have serious repercussions on eye health. Viral infections like feline herpes can spread between cats through bite wounds or saliva transmission; other diseases, like diabetes and hyperthyroidism can also lead to secondary eye problems.
Any cat experiencing changes to its eye color should see their veterinarian immediately, as pigment changes on the iris (the colored portion of the eye) may indicate cancerous melanoma tumors that grow quickly and could eventually lead to blindness if left untreated.
it can be alarming to witness your once healthy and vibrantly-colored cat develop watery eyes with discharge or start squinting or blinking more frequently, but early intervention, feeding a high quality meat-based diet and staying up-to-date on vaccinations will all work to help ensure their eyes remain happy and healthy!https://www.youtube.com/embed/z2mPj_gEJSk