Cloudy eye, cloudy eye in a cat. Cat's cloudy eyes

Cats often suffer from eye problems. Some diseases are not dangerous, but some of them can cause total loss vision. One of the main signs of a problem is a cloudy cat's eye.

Cloudy eye in a cat: signs

If a cat's eye is cloudy, then at first glance he appears to be blind. However, this is not always the case. There is only one sign of cloudy eyes in an animal – a white veil.

A cat's eye can become cloudy for a variety of reasons.

But over time, other symptoms may appear, for example:

  1. Blepharospasm and photophobia.
  2. Swelling of the conjunctiva.
  3. Irritability.
  4. Protrusion of the eye from the socket.
  5. Increase eyeball.
  6. Dilatation of blood vessels in the eye.
  7. The presence of purulent or mucous discharge from the eyes.
  8. Sleep disturbance.
  9. Loss of appetite.

You should not wait for signs of complications to appear, and if you notice clouding of the eye, you should immediately contact a veterinarian.

Common causes of cloudy eyes in cats

The most common reasons clouding of the eyes is glaucoma, cataract or keratitis. These problems are increasingly being identified in cats. different breeds and ages.

Glaucoma

At intraocular pressure increases, the size of the eyes changes, and vision begins to disappear.

The cat owner may also notice the following changes:

  • the pupil is dilated;
  • the cornea is almost white;
  • coordination is impaired.

But the cat mostly bumps into surrounding objects only because it doesn’t see well. Moreover, the disease can affect both eyes at once. The cause of glaucoma, which can be congenital or acute, can be a severe form of keratitis or lens luxation.

Cataract

It is considered clouding of the eye that begins from the pupil. The lens may completely lose its transparency. The disease can cause inflammatory disease eyes, trauma, or previous infection. Most often, this problem occurs in older cats due to metabolic disorders.

Cloudiness of the eye can occur due to cataracts.

Corneal lesions (keratitis)

IN in this case clouding of the surface of the eye is observed. It can begin to grow from any area of ​​the eye, resembling the gradual stretching of a thick film. occurs due to an inflammatory process in the tissues of the cornea, or due to an infection in the eye. It is not uncommon for the eye to become cloudy after an injury. In any form, keratitis is a serious problem.

Keratitis is also a consequence of age-related disorders, untreated, and the formation of ulcers on the corneas.

Less Common Causes of Cloudy Cat Eyes

In addition to the above reasons, there are other “culprits” for the development of cloudy eyes:

  1. Damage to the tear duct.
  2. Poor care after removal of the third eyelid.
  3. Bacterial infection.
  4. Cancer disease.
  5. Pathologies vitreous.
  6. Autoimmune diseases.

Important. The last point has not been studied enough. And it is considered only if other reasons are excluded.

Diagnosis of the disease

What to do if a cat's eye becomes cloudy, the doctor can tell you only after full examination pet. He will examine the cornea, eyelids, lens and determine the condition of the vitreous body.

Diagnosis today consists of the following studies:

For eye problems, the veterinarian does tonometry.

  1. Schirmer test. It is carried out using special paper, which is placed in the corner of the eye and the intensity of its wetting is observed. This is necessary in order to understand whether the animal produces enough tear fluid.
  2. Use of UV lamps. This method allows you to determine the presence of erosions and ulcers on the cornea. To do this, apply to the cornea special composition, which, if there are problems with the surface being inspected, begins to fluoresce.
  3. Tonometry. By measuring the pressure in the eyeball, you can identify not only existing glaucoma, but also its first signs.
  4. Serological and full analysis blood necessary to detect an infectious disease.
  5. Research for definition, infectious peritonitis, .

If there is insufficient information to make an accurate diagnosis, other research methods are used:

  1. Corneal cytology (scraping).
  2. Tests for sensitivity to a number of drugs. If the doctor previously found out that vision was impaired due to exposure to fungi, bacteria or viruses, then he must conduct tests using certain drugs, most often antibiotics. This is necessary in order to understand what medicines will be most effective in treatment.
  3. Determining the presence of herpes, which is often the cause of eye problems.
  4. Paracentesis is a test of the vitreous body.
  5. Serology.
  6. Electroretinography.
  7. Ultrasound examination of the eyes. This method used when the surface of the eyeball is very “clouded.”

Treatment methods

Many cat breeders are wondering how to treat their pet at home. The answer to this question depends on what kind of disease is detected in the animal. In some cases, treatment may be required in a veterinary clinic.

If the cause of the clouding of the eye is an infectious disease, the animal will be prescribed antibiotic treatment. wide range action, or antibacterial drugs in sufficiently large doses.

In the presence of corneal ulcers or glaucoma, it is used surgical intervention. The main difficulty in this case is the severity of the therapy; often, with glaucoma, the risk is complete removal of the eye. Corneal ulcers are eliminated less painfully by excising only the affected tissue. After the operation, scars remain that prevent the animal from fully restoring vision, but the pet still remains sighted.

Treatment depends on why your cat's eye is cloudy.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are also used in the treatment of cloudy eyes. Their use also has a number of contraindications, since these drugs long-term use have a negative impact on general condition animal body.

In almost all cases, no matter what disease is detected in a cat, it is prescribed to instill antiseptic drops into the conjunctival cavity and lay medicinal ointments. They are needed to moisturize the affected organ, because the liquid is a barrier to the entry and development of pathogenic microflora.

Important. If, after applying tetracycline, the eye becomes even more cloudy, you should seek advice from a veterinarian. This may indicate the presence individual reaction in an animal.

In addition to medications, you need to remember that the cat needs to create a comfortable environment during the treatment period. The animal needs rest and special diet, containing vitamins E and A. These supplements will help restore the affected areas of the cornea.

In some cases, complex treatment is prescribed, which consists of:

  • use of tetracycline ointment or gamavit;
  • washing with metrogil solution;
  • use of drugs based on Actovegin;
  • therapy with antiviral drugs.

Used for treatment eye drops and ointments.

Disease prevention and care

Even the most complex diseases Eye problems that lead to clouding can be prevented or delayed. To do this, you just need to carefully monitor your pet. Monitor your cat's eyes at least twice a day. If you notice redness, discharge from the eyes, blurred vision, or pain syndrome, then contact a specialist immediately. All of the above symptoms may indicate the development or worsening of the pathological process.

You can avoid problems with your pet's vision. To do this, minimize stress factors that affect your cat's vision.

If your cat suffers from an eye condition and has difficulty seeing, ensure her complete safety. To do this, remove from the room objects that may be dangerous for the animal - chairs, tables and other obstacles.

Cats often injure themselves. A surgical collar will help you avoid self-injury to your eyes. It is placed around the pet’s neck, and the cat is no longer able to reach its eyes with its paws and rub them.

In order for your cat to be treated effectively, you need to remember that all medications prescribed by your veterinarian must be used strictly according to the instructions. You do not need to prescribe medications for your pet yourself, increase or decrease the recommended dosage, or change the medication schedule.

Attention. Do not use “human” medications to treat your cat. This is especially true for eye drops. Drugs such as Vizin, Taufon, etc. are designed for human biochemistry, but for an animal they can be destructive.

For treatment cat eyes veterinary drugs must be used.

There is no need to resort to folk remedies, which suggest pouring powdered sugar into the cat’s eye or dropping milk. All this, in best case scenario, may cause blurriness clinical picture, and the doctor will not be able to timely identify the true problem. In the worst case scenario, the animal will permanently lose its vision.

To ensure that your cat can still see clearly not only at night, but also during the day, you must monitor her closely. Any changes in the eyes and behavior of the animal should alert you.

Even the most serious disease You can win if you consult a specialist in a timely manner and do not self-medicate, wasting time.

Cats are distinguished by their ability to see in the dark. This is not surprising, because mustachioed pets are predators by nature. Unfortunately, these pets often have eye pathologies. Certain eye diseases in cats lead to partial loss of vision or blindness. If you do not sound the alarm in time and contact a veterinarian, the animal may lose the ability to see. One of the main symptoms of this condition is cloudy eyes in a cat. Below we will analyze the reasons for this phenomenon, and also determine possible ways treatment.

Relevance of the problem

If a cat's eye is cloudy, then from the outside it appears as if he is blind. In fact, this is not always the case. To understand the real reason this phenomenon in pet, you must contact veterinary clinic.

The fact is that a cat's cloudy eye may be due to various diseases: keratitis, cataracts, uveitis, glaucoma. It is possible to understand what exactly a particular pet has only in laboratory conditions using special equipment.

Causes of the disease

The main causes of blurred vision in a cat include:

  1. Diseases of the eye cornea. It loses its shine, becomes whitish, and a bluish tint appears.
  2. Diseases of the lens. Such pathologies are characterized by clouding of the pupil, the cornea remains transparent and is not affected. When the light is pointed at the organ of vision, the haze narrows. This confirms that the reason lies precisely in the pupil.

Below we will look at the origin of the loss of transparency of the animal's eye in more detail.

Causes of cloudy eyes in cats

Cloudiness of the cornea indicates cornea disease. There are three options for reasons that created problems with the cornea:

  • Accumulation of excess pus, fluid, calcium or cholesterol.
  • The appearance of an eyesore (scars from connective tissue).
  • Pathological germination of blood vessels.

Keratitis

With this disease, vision always becomes worse, sometimes completely lost. The disease appears due to toxic damage to the liver. Most often this occurs during intoxication and poisoning, during acute infectious pathologies of the organs of vision caused by pathogenic microorganisms, fungi, viruses or neurogenic diseases.

To stop your cat's vision loss you need to: urgent help veterinarian

Symptoms

The first sign of keratitis is cloudy. Initially, redness and purulent discharge appear. serous fluid. Then the cornea loses transparency, the eye becomes cloudy, and ulcers or tissue necrosis appear.

An accurate diagnosis is necessary to select the appropriate treatment. It is carried out using a special fluorescent liquid composition. After this, they become visible in the light. This type of diagnosis is carried out only in a veterinary clinic.

Treatment of keratitis

Treatment at home is strictly contraindicated. Keratitis is a polyetiological disease; without establishing the exact cause, self-therapy can be harmful.

After diagnostics and diagnosis, the specialist prescribes treatment aimed at eliminating the consequences of the identified eye pathology and maintaining the cat’s immunity.

Must be registered antiseptic drugs for washing the organ of vision, as well as antiviral and antibacterial ointments and drops. In addition, you should pay attention to your pet’s diet. It must be complete and contain a sufficient amount of microelements and vitamins.

Glaucoma

This eye disease in animals develops against the background of increased intraocular pressure. During acute attack pathology, the cornea ceases to be transparent, and the symptom of a cloudy eye appears in the cat.

Optic atrophy can cause a pet to completely lose vision within two to four days. Therefore, the cat needs emergency veterinary care.

Symptoms

Signs of an acute attack of glaucoma include:

  • painful sensations when touching the eye;
  • fear of light;
  • corneal edema;
  • increased intraocular pressure.

Therapy

My cat has a cloudy eye, what should I do? An acute attack of glaucoma requires an urgent reduction in pressure inside the organ of vision. For this you need to contact a veterinarian. He will carry out everything necessary manipulations, while observing the condition of the animal.

Further therapy consists of the use of drugs that reduce pressure in the eyes, drugs that help normalize the animal’s condition, and diuretics.

Corneal ulcers and erosions

These corneal diseases vary in depth and can occur due to chemical, thermal and mechanical injuries, as well as chlamydia, glaucoma, inflammatory eye pathologies and other diseases. Distinctive features of this disease are:

  • redness of the cornea of ​​the organ of vision;
  • fear of light;
  • clouding of the eye.

The owner in this situation may notice that the cat’s one eye has become cloudy, while the other is fine.

Treatment

Therapy consists of excluding the main cause of the defect and symptomatic local treatment. The complex course includes corneoprotectors, antibacterial and immunostimulating drugs.

This disease appears due to the development of some generalized process in the cat’s eye. This could be glaucoma, cataracts, keratitis. More often, the pathology affects only one eye.

Why does the cat have a cloudy eye?

The cornea organ is disrupted metabolic processes, and this, in turn, leads to the deposition of calcium, cholesterol or amyloid cells in it. Due to these processes, the eye becomes cloudy and loses its normal structure. For therapy, special medications and surgical methods are used.

Scar (thorn) of the cornea

This defect causes clouding of the cornea after burns, trauma or ulcers. There are several types of disease:

  • A peripheral thorn, it does not have a significant harmful influence on vision, as it is located away from the pupil.
  • A total cataract covers the cornea and pupil. With this pathology, vision is significantly reduced.
  • Central thorn. Located on the pupil itself. It can cover it completely or partially. Vision becomes limited.

The disease is characterized cloudy spot in the cat's eye. Used for treatment special ointments and drops that can only be prescribed by a veterinarian.

Causes of clouding and damage to the lens

The pupil of the eye itself does not lose transparency, since it is a hole in the iris. The transparent biolens of the organ of vision, called the lens, becomes cloudy. It is located behind the pupil.

The main cause of clouding is considered to be cataracts. This pathology manifests itself for several reasons:

  • changes in metabolism associated with the age of the animal (old individuals);
  • endocrine diseases - lipid metabolism disorders, diabetes;
  • pupil injuries;
  • infectious pathologies in a pregnant individual can cause pathology of the eye lens in a kitten;
  • certain cat breeds have genetic predisposition To this disease: Persians, Burmese, Siamese.

Treatment of cataracts, carried out with the help of medications, can only temporarily slow down the development of the disease.

Therapy

Radical treatment for lens opacity involves replacing it with surgery. If you don't do it on time radical treatment, then the process will develop further with severe complications:

  • uveitis - inflammation choroid eyes, often leading to blindness;
  • secondary glaucoma with optic nerve atrophy and vision loss;
  • panophthalmitis - the release of masses of the lens into the chambers of the eye, the appearance of inflammation, pus: all this leads to the death of the eye.

It becomes clear that if a cat's eye is covered with a cloudy film, this can lead to partial loss of vision or complete blindness. Restoring the function of the organ of vision depends on how quickly the animal owner contacted the veterinarian. In addition, a correct diagnosis is important and quality treatment. Positive results most often appear in cases where the pathology is detected at an early stage of development.

Prevention

In order to prevent clouding of your cat’s eyes, you should follow a few simple rules for keeping your pet:

  • Vaccinate the animal against infectious pathologies in a timely manner;
  • undergo timely examinations by a specialist;
  • Consult a doctor immediately after identifying unpleasant eye pathologies.

It should be borne in mind that if the cat already has inflammation of the organs of vision, the animal must be closely monitored. Your pet should be examined at least twice a day. If severe inflammation, redness, or clouding of the cornea appears, you should immediately go to the veterinarian. To prevent the condition from worsening, all stress factors for the animal should be kept to a minimum. Since they are the ones who can provoke a deterioration in the animal’s condition. The owner must also take into account the fact that from the room where the sick cat is located, it is necessary to remove interior items that the cat could hit and suffer.

It should also be understood that any eye pathology can lead to loss of vision in a cat, so you should not leave even the most harmless inflammation of the mucous membrane uncontrolled.

In addition, the owner must provide the sick animal with complete rest and, if possible, include foods with a high concentration of tocopherol and retinol in the cat’s diet. These vitamins have a positive effect on damaged epithelial layers of the cornea and restore the organs of vision.

Conclusion

If you see cloudy eyes in your pet, you should not exercise self-treatment. Also, you should not expect the pathology to resolve on its own. In such a situation, you need to urgently consult a doctor. The sooner the owner does this, the greater the chance that the cat will retain its vision.

Cats are famous for their ability to see in the dark, this is not surprising since their whiskered friends are predators by nature. If you do not contact a veterinarian in a timely manner, there is a possibility of complete loss of vision in your four-legged pet. Today we will look at the reasons similar phenomenon, and also highlight possible therapeutic techniques and diagnostic methods.

Causes of cloudy eyes

If we consider the issue from a veterinary point of view, experts divide all the reasons into several groups. They can be congenital, acquired or temporary. The last option is the most gentle, but often the cat must be taken to the veterinarian immediately.

  1. The cornea of ​​the eye may be damaged if the animal has had a relatively recent infection or exposure to mechanical impact. The eye becomes cloudy due to degenerative phenomena and scarring.
  2. Problems with the visual organs arise due to a violation of fluid exchange in the cavity of the eyeball. As a rule, this is observed during or immediately after infections in the animal. Difficulties are caused by impaired metabolism, poisoning by toxins or food, as well as treatment of the cat with medications not prescribed by a doctor.
  3. During the process of cataract formation, the lens whitens or becomes cloudy. This disease must be treated at the onset stage.
  4. When ulcers appear on the cornea, the eyeball becomes cloudy. These ulcers appear due to previous infection, recent poisoning of the animal with toxins, or rat poison, others chemicals. Any irritant, causing intoxication, can negatively affect eye health.
  5. Potential and underlying causes of vitreous disease cannot be excluded. When pathogens develop in the cavity or fluid balance is disturbed, the eyes become cloudy.
  6. In veterinary medicine, there are more common causes of this. In practice, cats exhibit clouding of the eyeball due to eyelid defects such as innate character, and acquired. Perhaps the pet got into a fight with its brothers or was already born with such an illness.
  7. If surgery has been performed relatively recently, that is, surgery was performed on the animal’s eyes, then complications are possible. They develop when the tear duct or an infection has occurred. This reason comes from the inexperience of the surgeon.
  8. Cloudiness is caused by inflammatory processes of the cornea, that is, keratitis in its various manifestations. Because with this disease the protective layer of the eye is destroyed.
  9. If the animal has a slow metabolism and a disease is detected infectious nature, then lipids can accumulate in the tissues of the cornea. This will lead to cloudiness. Oncological diseases associated with the eyes cannot be ruled out.
  10. The discussed deterioration of the visual organ depends on the age of the animal. Elderly pets with diagnosed glaucoma, as well as premature aging corneas and surgery for conjunctivitis - all this can lead to complications. If after surgery the “veil” does not go away from your eyes, but only becomes more pronounced, contact your surgeon.

Diagnostic methods

The above reasons are not full list why four-legged friends' eyes become cloudy. In fact, when you first noticed changes in the condition of the visual organs, you should have immediately taken the animal to the veterinarian. Only diagnostics will help establish the root cause. The examination covers the lens, cornea, eyelids, and vitreous body. For this purpose, doctors resort to the following diagnostic options:

  1. First, the specialist will take a Schirmer test to determine the volume of tears. It is important to compare the obtained value with the optimal indicators. The procedure is carried out, relatively speaking, like this: paper is applied to the corner of the cat's eye. As she gets wet, the doctor determines the volume of tears being produced.
  2. Ultraviolet lamps are used to identify erosions or hidden ulcers on the cornea. The eye cornea is treated special means, subsequently use the apparatus. If there are damages, they will be revealed by this lamp.
  3. Without fail, a specialist prescribes tests to identify cat viruses. Tests for toxoplasmosis are also taken.
  4. The doctor measures the pressure of the eyeball. This is necessary for timely diagnosis glaucoma or its first signs. There is an opportunity to eliminate the disease in time.
  5. To exclude an infectious disease as the underlying cause, blood is taken from the cat for analysis.
  6. If all of the above methods for identifying the causes of cloudy eyes do not give reliable results, then there is a need for additional research. Electroretinography is done to determine how it is working retina. Usually, electroretinography is used when it is necessary to identify serious eye pathologies.
  7. The cells of the cornea of ​​a mustachioed pet are examined to find out what may be the cause of the clouding. The specialist conducts ultrasonography, if other determination methods have failed.
  8. Paracentesis is also performed on feline friends, that is, samples of the vitreous body are taken. Again, this is a complex procedure, which is resorted to in advanced cases with final clouding of the eyes.
  9. In situations where it is established that these disorders were caused by viruses, a course of special medications is prescribed. If the disease is caused by cat viruses, after diagnosis, the specialist prescribes treatment.

Therapy

  1. Treatment of the disease will be carried out only after established diagnosis. There can be a sufficient number of reasons for clouding the surface of the eyeball. It can be assumed that such a problem arose due to an infectious disease.
  2. As soon as the specialist examines the animal and makes an accurate diagnosis, appropriate measures will be taken. In this case, the veterinarian will usually prescribe loading doses strong antibiotics. Such drugs have a wide range of effects.
  3. In addition, medications with antibacterial effects will be additionally prescribed. If a specialist has diagnosed glaucoma, similar diseases or corneal ulcers, then surgical intervention cannot be avoided.
  4. It is worth noting that the treatment of glaucoma requires drastic interventions. You should mentally prepare for the fact that the animal will most likely have to have the affected eye removed. If this is not done in time, the cat may become completely blind.
  5. If a pet has been diagnosed with corneal ulcers, it is extremely rare that the eye will need to be removed. In such cases, a special surgical operation to remove the affected tissue often helps.
  6. It is important to understand that minor scars will remain on the cornea. Visual acuity may be affected, but the cat will be able to see fully. Still, this option is considered the best, in contrast to complete loss of vision.
  7. Infectious diseases are often treated by prescribing non-steroidal drugs. Such compositions have excellent anti-inflammatory effects. Please note that special care should be taken with such medications.
  8. The problem is that non-steroidal drugs negatively affect the condition of the entire body. Exactly because of this reason long-term treatment such means are strictly contraindicated. Otherwise, many side effects will occur.
  9. In any case, if there is an eye disease, the animal needs to be put in conjunctival sac various antiseptic ointments or instill drops. Such compositions perfectly moisturize the affected eye. The products prevent the development of pathogenic microorganisms.
  10. Keep in mind that it is important to provide complete rest to a sick animal. In addition, it is assigned special food. Products must contain high concentration retinol and tocopherol. Such vitamins effectively restore damaged epithelial layers of the cornea.

Preventive procedures

  1. Keep in mind that if a cat already has inflammatory processes in the eyes, the animal must be carefully monitored. Examine your pet at least 2 times a day. If you notice a sudden appearance of redness in the mucous membrane of the eye, go to the vet immediately.
  2. This is direct evidence of an inflammatory response. In addition, an increase in the volume of discharge may be observed. The animal may experience pain and deterioration in visual acuity. Do not hesitate under any circumstances. Things could get much worse.
  3. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary on your part to reduce all stress factors to a minimum. It is precisely such circumstances that can provoke a deterioration in the animal’s condition. Keep in mind that if your pet’s eyesight is severely damaged, furniture and chairs should be removed from the room where the cat is located. The problem is that the animal can get hit and get hurt.

If you see cloudy eyes in an animal, you should not treat it yourself. Don't wait, hoping that everything will pass. Call a veterinarian to your home immediately. The faster you react, the greater the chance of saving the animal’s vision.

Video: what to do if a kitten’s eye is cloudy?

Cloudiness of one eye or both is caused by damage to the cornea or lens, accumulation of excess liquid in them. Most often, one organ of vision becomes cloudy and in simple language called a thorn.

Causes of cloudy eyes in cats

Cloudiness of a cat's eye may be due to inflammatory processes or allergic reactions.

There are many reasons for this phenomenon.

The most common occurrence factor is mechanical damage. In appearance it looks like a cloudy film or a milky stain.

With the advent similar symptom The pet's vision weakens, and most often cannot be restored. Also the reason may be , inflammatory processes, metabolic imbalance . Intraocular fluid caused by an excess of leukocytes, protein or lipids.

Cloudiness of the lens of the eye

Lens cloudiness can occur in any breed of cat.

Cloudiness of the lens protrudes characteristic feature cataracts.

Inflammation of the vitreous body is also characterized by the presence of a cataract. All breeds of cats are susceptible to the disease, regardless of season, gender and age. A cataract may appear as a complication in all ophthalmological diseases.

Establishing diagnosis

To determine the cause of the pathology, an examination of the eyeball is performed.

Install the real reason the appearance of pathology is possible through comprehensive examination which includes:

  • taking anamnesis;
  • use of fluorescein;
  • tonometry;
  • ophthalmoscopy;
  • serological, ;
  • cytology or microscopy;
  • smear culture;
  • examination of intraocular fluid samples;
  • Ultrasound of the eyeball;
  • gonioscopy.

History taking includes information about the animal’s contacts, menu composition, the presence of concurrent diseases and methods of their treatment. To determine the presence of ulcers, the cornea is stained with a fluorescent substance.

Main symptoms

When a cat gets sick, it shows nervousness and increased excitability.

The main symptom, it would seem, is so pronounced that there should be no doubt about the diagnosis.

However, based on the cause of the appearance, parallel signs characteristic of a specific pathology are observed. There are three degrees of damage.

  1. Peripheral degree - present as a border, on the edges of the apple.
  2. Central the lesion is the very center of the organ of vision.
  3. Total degree - the eye is completely closed.

At the same time, the cat’s behavior changes. Due to decreased vision, the pet walks unsteadily and does not see obstacles in the form of furniture or other objects. Nervousness and increased excitability appear. Strabismus can often be observed. In the presence of inflammation, there is pain, discharge, and swelling of the mucous membrane.

Treating a cat's cloudy eye

In most cases, a cat's vision loss will last a lifetime.

It should be noted right away that complete cure This pathology occurs very rarely.

Typically, a cat's vision loss will last a lifetime. Some possible positive results, if contacting a veterinarian and carrying out therapeutic measures carried out in a timely manner, which undoubtedly leads to improvement.

Eye drops

An aqueous solution of honey can help in treatment.

Complex treatment

  1. However, the use of complex treatment will give more tangible results.
  2. It is advisable to prescribe rinses with a metrogil solution.
  3. The use of gamavit, tetracycline ointment is indicated.
  4. It is acceptable to prescribe drugs based on Actovegin.
  5. If the preceding factor is glaucoma, without surgical removal an eyeball is indispensable.
  6. Novocaine blockade is carried out.

For treatment, rinsing with Metrogyl solution is prescribed.

If the clouding is caused by a herpes virus, long-term therapy with antiviral drugs is necessary.

It is very important not to leave the animal alone for a long time during treatment.

conclusions

Constant monitoring and control – deposit successful treatment. Revealing the slightest sign worsening - increasing areas of redness, new pain or a sharp increase in discharge - immediate appeal to the veterinarian.

Observation by a veterinarian and monitoring the cat’s condition is the key to successful treatment.

Video about cloudy eyes in cats

Cats often suffer from eye problems. Some diseases are not dangerous, but some of them can cause complete loss of vision. One of the main signs of a problem is a cloudy cat's eye.

Cloudy eye in a cat: signs

If a cat's eye is cloudy, then at first glance he appears to be blind. However, this is not always the case. There is only one sign of cloudy eyes in an animal – a white veil.

A cat's eye can become cloudy for a variety of reasons.

But over time, other symptoms may appear, for example:

  1. Blepharospasm and photophobia.
  2. Swelling of the conjunctiva.
  3. Irritability.
  4. Protrusion of the eye from the socket.
  5. Enlargement of the eyeball.
  6. Dilatation of blood vessels in the eye.
  7. The presence of purulent or mucous discharge from the eyes.
  8. Sleep disturbance.
  9. Loss of appetite.

You should not wait for signs of complications to appear, and if you notice clouding of the eye, you should immediately contact a veterinarian.

Common causes of cloudy eyes in cats

The most common causes of cloudy eyes are glaucoma, cataracts or keratitis. These problems are increasingly being identified in cats of different breeds and ages.

Glaucoma

When a cat has glaucoma, the intraocular pressure increases, the size of the eyes changes, and vision begins to disappear.

The cat owner may also notice the following changes:

  • the pupil is dilated;
  • the cornea is almost white;
  • coordination is impaired.

But the cat mostly bumps into surrounding objects only because it doesn’t see well. Moreover, the disease can affect both eyes at once. The cause of glaucoma, which can be congenital or acute, can be a severe form of keratitis or lens luxation.

Cataract

A cataract is a clouding of the eye that begins at the pupil. The lens may completely lose its transparency. The disease can be caused by an inflammatory disease of the eye, trauma, or a previous infection. Most often, this problem occurs in older cats due to metabolic disorders.

Cloudiness of the eye can occur due to cataracts.

Corneal lesions (keratitis)

In this case, clouding of the surface of the eye is observed. It can begin to grow from any area of ​​the eye, resembling the gradual stretching of a thick film. Keratitis in cats occurs due to an inflammatory process in the tissues of the cornea, or due to an infection in the eye. It is not uncommon for the eye to become cloudy after an injury. In any form, keratitis is a serious problem.

Keratitis is also a consequence of age-related disorders, untreated conjunctivitis, and the formation of ulcers on the corneas.

Less Common Causes of Cloudy Cat Eyes

In addition to the above reasons, there are other “culprits” for the development of cloudy eyes:

  1. Damage to the tear duct.
  2. Poor care after removal of the third eyelid.
  3. Bacterial infection.
  4. Cancer disease.
  5. Pathologies of the vitreous body.
  6. Autoimmune diseases.

Important. The last point has not been studied enough. And it is considered only if other reasons are excluded.

Diagnosis of the disease

What to do if a cat's eye becomes cloudy, the doctor can tell you only after a complete examination of the pet. He will examine the cornea, eyelids, lens and determine the condition of the vitreous body.

Diagnosis today consists of the following studies:

For eye problems, the veterinarian does tonometry.

  1. Schirmer test. It is carried out using special paper, which is placed in the corner of the eye and the intensity of its wetting is observed. This is necessary in order to understand whether the animal produces enough tear fluid.
  2. Use of UV lamps. This method allows you to determine the presence of erosions and ulcers on the cornea. To do this, a special composition is applied to the cornea, which, if there are problems with the surface being examined, begins to fluoresce.
  3. Tonometry. By measuring the pressure in the eyeball, you can identify not only existing glaucoma, but also its first signs.
  4. Serological and complete blood count necessary to detect an infectious disease.
  5. Research for the determination of feline immunodeficiency virus, leukemia, infectious peritonitis, toxoplasmosis.

If there is insufficient information to make an accurate diagnosis, other research methods are used:

  1. Corneal cytology (scraping).
  2. Tests for sensitivity to a number of drugs. If the doctor previously found out that vision was impaired due to exposure to fungi, bacteria or viruses, then he must conduct tests using certain drugs, most often antibiotics. This is necessary in order to understand which medications will be most effective in treatment.
  3. Determining the presence of herpes, which is often the cause of eye problems.
  4. Paracentesis is a test of the vitreous body.
  5. Serology.
  6. Electroretinography.
  7. Ultrasound examination of the eyes. This method is used when the surface of the eyeball is very “clouded.”

Treatment methods

Many cat breeders are wondering how to treat their pet at home. The answer to this question depends on what kind of disease is detected in the animal. In some cases, treatment may be required in a veterinary clinic.

If the cause of clouding of the eye is an infectious disease, then the animal will be prescribed treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics or antibacterial drugs in fairly large doses.

In the presence of corneal ulcers or glaucoma, surgery is used. The main difficulty in this case is the severity of the therapy; often, with glaucoma, the risk is complete removal of the eye. Corneal ulcers are eliminated less painfully by excising only the affected tissue. After the operation, scars remain that prevent the animal from fully restoring vision, but the pet still remains sighted.

Treatment depends on why your cat's eye is cloudy.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are also used in the treatment of cloudy eyes. Their use also has a number of contraindications, since these drugs, when used for a long time, negatively affect the general condition of the animal’s body.

In almost all cases, no matter what disease is detected in a cat, it is prescribed to instill antiseptic drops into the conjunctival cavity and apply medicinal ointments. They are needed to moisturize the affected organ, because the liquid is a barrier to the entry and development of pathogenic microflora.

Important. If, after applying tetracycline, the eye becomes even more cloudy, you should seek advice from a veterinarian. This may indicate the presence of an individual reaction in the animal.

In addition to medications, you need to remember that the cat needs to create a comfortable environment during the treatment period. The animal requires rest and a special diet containing vitamins E and A. These supplements will help restore the affected areas of the cornea.

In some cases, complex treatment is prescribed, which consists of:

  • use of tetracycline ointment or gamavit;
  • washing with metrogil solution;
  • use of drugs based on Actovegin;
  • therapy with antiviral drugs.

Eye drops and ointments are used for treatment.

Disease prevention and care

Even the most complex eye diseases that lead to clouding can be prevented or delayed. To do this, you just need to carefully monitor your pet. Monitor your cat's eyes at least twice a day. If you notice redness, discharge from the eyes, blurred vision or pain, contact a specialist immediately. All of the above symptoms may indicate the development or worsening of the pathological process.

You can avoid problems with your pet's vision. To do this, minimize stress factors that affect your cat's vision.

If your cat suffers from an eye condition and has difficulty seeing, ensure her complete safety. To do this, remove from the room objects that may be dangerous for the animal - chairs, tables and other obstacles.

Cats often injure themselves. A surgical collar will help you avoid self-injury to your eyes. It is placed around the pet’s neck, and the cat is no longer able to reach its eyes with its paws and rub them.

In order for your cat to be treated effectively, you need to remember that all medications prescribed by your veterinarian must be used strictly according to the instructions. You do not need to prescribe medications for your pet yourself, increase or decrease the recommended dosage, or change the medication schedule.

Attention. Do not use “human” medications to treat your cat. This is especially true for eye drops. Drugs such as Vizin, Taufon, etc. are designed for human biochemistry, but for an animal they can be destructive.

Veterinary medications must be used to treat cat eyes.

You should not resort to folk remedies that suggest pouring powdered sugar into the cat’s eye or dropping milk. All this, at best, can lead to a blurred clinical picture, and the doctor will not be able to timely identify the true problem. In the worst case scenario, the animal will permanently lose its vision.

To ensure that your cat can still see clearly not only at night, but also during the day, you must monitor her closely. Any changes in the eyes and behavior of the animal should alert you.

Even the most serious disease can be overcome if you consult a specialist in a timely manner and do not self-medicate, wasting time.

Eye pathologies in cats are not uncommon. But there are certain eye diseases in these pets that carry the risk of partial or even complete loss of vision. One of the main signs of this condition is clouding of the cat's eye.

Relevance of the problem

If a cat's eye becomes cloudy, it appears as if he is blind. But it is not always the case. To establish the true cause of blurred vision in pet, you need to contact a veterinarian-ophthalmologist.

The fact is that the causes of this eye pathology can be various diseases: cataract, keratitis, glaucoma, uveitis. They can only be recognized in a veterinary clinic using special equipment.

Causes of the disease

The main causes of loss of transparency in a cat’s eye are:

  • pathology of the cornea. It becomes whitish or has a pale blue tint and loses its shine;
  • lens pathology. They are limited to clouding of the pupil, the cornea is not affected and remains transparent. When you shine light on the eye, the cloudiness narrows, which confirms the lesion is in the pupil.

Let's consider the options when a cat's eye becomes cloudy in more detail.

Causes of loss of transparency of the cornea of ​​the eye, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

The opacity of the cornea of ​​the eye indicates its disease. There are 3 groups of reasons that provoke the occurrence of problems with the cornea:

  1. Accumulation of excess fluid, pus, cholesterol or calcium.
  2. Pathological germination of blood vessels.
  3. Formation of scars from connective tissue (cataracts), etc.

Keratitis

With this disease, vision always deteriorates or is completely lost. Keratitis is a consequence of toxic damage to the liver during poisoning and intoxication, in acute infectious diseases eyes caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, or neurogenic pathologies.

To prevent your cat from going completely blind, immediate professional help is required.

The first symptoms of keratitis are redness of the eye and the presence of serous or purulent discharge. After some time, the cat’s eye becomes cloudy and the cornea loses its transparency. With prolonged development of the pathology, ulcers and necrosis of the cornea develop.

To select adequate treatment, reliable diagnosis is necessary. It is carried out using a special fluorescent liquid. In the light, damage to the cornea becomes visible. Diagnosis is carried out in a veterinary clinic.

Self-treatment is strictly contraindicated, since keratitis is a polyetiological disease, and without a clearly established cause, treatment can cause additional harm.

The prescribed treatment after diagnosis should be aimed at combating the consequences of the identified eye infection and maintaining immune status animal.

Required antiseptic solutions for washing the eyes, antibacterial or antiviral drops and ointments. A complete diet with sufficient vitamins and microelements is also necessary.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is an eye disease in cats that develops against the background of increased intraocular pressure. The cornea loses transparency during an acute attack of the disease.

Optic nerve atrophy leads to complete blindness of the animal within 2-4 days after the attack. Therefore, the animal needs urgent veterinary care.

Symptoms of an acute attack of glaucoma:

  • pain when touching the eye;
  • photophobia;
  • corneal edema;
  • high intraocular pressure.

Treatment for an acute attack of glaucoma involves urgently reducing the pressure inside the eye. Manipulations must be carried out by a veterinary specialist with monitoring of the animal’s condition.

Further treatment consists of the use of drugs that reduce intraocular pressure, diuretics and agents that help stabilize the cat's condition.

Corneal erosions and ulcers

These corneal defects of varying depths can occur due to mechanical, chemical and thermal injuries, chlamydia, inflammatory pathologies of the eye, glaucoma and other pathologies. The eye acquires characteristic features:

  • redness of the cornea of ​​the eye;
  • photophobia;
  • corneal clouding.

Treatment consists of eliminating the underlying cause of the disease and symptomatic local therapy. Complex treatment includes antibacterial, corneoprotective and immunostimulating drugs.

This pathology is a consequence of some generalized process in the animal’s eye. This could be cataracts, glaucoma, keratitis. More often the process affects one eye.

In the cornea of ​​the eye, local metabolism is disrupted, which leads to the deposition of cholesterol, calcium or amyloid cells in it. As a result of these processes, the eye loses its normal structure and becomes cloudy. Special medications and surgical methods are used in treatment.

Scar (thorn) of the cornea

A scar or cataract of the cornea causes it to become cloudy after injury, burns or ulcers. There are several types of pathology:

  • peripheral cataract, it is located away from the pupil and does not have a significant harmful effect on vision;
  • a total cataract that covers the pupil and cornea. Vision deteriorates significantly;
  • central thorn. It is located on the pupil, covering it partially or completely. The field of view becomes limited.

Partial or full recovery corneas with this pathology is only possible with timely professional treatment.

Causes of damage and clouding of the lens of the eye

The pupil of the eye does not become cloudy, as it is a hole in the iris. The transparent biolens of the eye, the lens located behind the pupil, becomes cloudy.

The main cause of lens clouding is cataracts. This disease develops for several reasons:

  • age-related changes in metabolism in old individuals;
  • endocrine diseases - diabetes mellitus, lipid metabolism disorders;
  • pupil injuries;
  • infectious diseases in a pregnant cat can cause damage to the lens of the kitten’s eye;
  • genetic predisposition individual breeds cats to this pathology. These are breeds such as Persians, Siamese and Burmese.

Treatment of cataracts with medications can only temporarily slow down the course of the disease.

The definitive treatment for lens opacity is surgery to replace it. If radical treatment to replace the lens is not carried out in time, the process develops further with complications:

  • uveitis – development inflammatory process choroid, which leads to loss of vision;
  • secondary glaucoma with optic nerve atrophy and the development of complete blindness;
  • panophthalmitis – release of lens masses into the chambers of the eye, development purulent inflammation, death of the eye.

Obviously, clouding of a cat's eye always leads to decreased vision or complete blindness. Restoration of eye function depends on the time of treatment specialized assistance, correct diagnosis and quality treatment.

Good results from treatment are possible if you contact specialists at an early stage of the development of the pathology.

Prevention

Preventing cloudy eyes in a cat involves following a few steps: simple rules keeping the animal:

  • timely vaccination against infectious diseases;
  • regular examinations of the animal and timely contact with a specialist in case of the slightest inflammation pet's eye;
  • if you suspect clouding of the eyes, urgently contact a veterinary ophthalmologist.

It should be remembered that any eye disease can lead to vision loss in a cat. Therefore, you should not ignore even the slightest eye inflammation in a cat and promptly contact a veterinary clinic.

Cloudy eyes in cats are a common problem that causes serious concern from pet owners. Clouding of the cornea in cats may indicate the development of ophthalmological disease, in which both one or both organs of vision can be affected.

In some cases, clouding of the eyes in cats is temporary and does not pose any danger to the pet. But if available serious pathologies may result in complete or partial loss of vision for the animal. A veterinarian will help determine the specific cause of the problem, so under no circumstances should you delay a visit to the doctor.

Main signs of cloudy eyes in cats

Symptoms of cloudy eyes in a cat can appear both in the initial and more severe, advanced stages of the disease. It is very important to determine the presence of pathology on early stages, since the effectiveness of treatment and the preservation of full vision in the cat depend on this.

Signs of the disease can appear in both kittens and adult pets. Most often they look like this:

  • A whitish veil or so-called cataract appears on the mucous membrane of the cornea of ​​the eye.
  • Swelling and redness of the ocular conjunctiva.
  • Development of photophobia.
  • Increase in the size of the organ of vision.
  • The eye may protrude beyond its limits.
  • Dilation of blood vessels inside the organ of vision.
  • The appearance of purulent or mucous discharge from the eye.

A cloudy eye in a cat is accompanied by changes in the animal's behavior. It becomes irritable and restless, it loses its appetite, and the pet can lose a lot of weight. You should not wait for the disease to progress to an advanced form - at the first signs of cloudy eyes in a cat, you should immediately visit a veterinarian.

Causes of pathology

The causes of clouding of the cornea in cats can be quite varied. Most often, the development of pathology is associated with injuries to the organs of vision, as well as ophthalmological diseases.

The main causes among eye diseases:

  1. Cataract.
  2. Glaucoma.
  3. Keratitis.
  4. Uveitis.

In most cases, the development of cataracts is accompanied by the presence of cloudiness on the eye cornea. The disease is characterized by rapid clouding of the lens, in which it can completely lose its transparency. Most often, cataracts occur in adult cats and are associated with age-related changes in their body.

Glaucoma is a common ophthalmological pathology that affects one eye or both organs. Evolving in the background sharp increase pressure inside the cornea. Additional symptoms glaucoma is redness, swelling, fear bright color. A clouded pupil leads to full or partial atrophy optic nerves, which can cause the cat to lose vision.

Keratitis is a common eye disease among cats. It occurs against the background of inflammatory or infectious process, affecting the surface of the ocular cornea. With the development of keratitis, it is observed sharp deterioration the acuity and quality of a cat's vision up to its complete loss. The disease requires immediate treatment, which will help avoid blindness of the pet.

Other, less common reasons for a cat's eye to become cloudy may be related to autoimmune diseases, pathologies endocrine system, age-related changes, oncology, infection of the corneal surface after unsuccessful operations before our eyes.

Diagnosis of disease in cats

In order to answer the question of what to do in case of clouding eye lens in a cat, you need to immediately contact a veterinary clinic. Only a doctor, having carried out all the necessary diagnostic measures, will be able to explain why the animal developed a vision pathology.

Basic diagnostic methods:

  • Tonometry – measurement of the level of intraocular pressure.
  • Schirmer's test is a test that shows the amount of tear fluid produced in the ducts.
  • Ultraviolet examination - allows you to identify microtraumas and erosions on the cornea of ​​both one and both eyes.
  • Clinical blood test.

Based on the test results obtained, it is possible to accurately determine why the cat’s eye is cloudy.

Effective treatments

If a cat's eye becomes cloudy, the main methods of treatment depend on the cause that triggered the development of the pathology. Therapy can be carried out both at home and in a hospital.

In case of illness infectious origin are appointed antibacterial drugs. In case of inflammation, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antiseptic or antibacterial drops for eye drops. They promote additional hydration of the mucous membrane, eliminate redness and swelling, and reliably protect the eyes from viruses and bacteria.

In the most severe cases When the clouding of the ocular cornea is caused by glaucoma or ulcers, it is recommended to surgical intervention. After the operation, vision may deteriorate significantly, but complete blindness of the animal can be avoided.

Cloudy eyes in cats are a common ophthalmological pathology that may be a sign serious illnesses. It is extremely important to carefully monitor the condition of your pet’s eyes, as well as promptly seek veterinary help. This will help avoid severe consequences and preserve your pet's vision.

Fluid accumulation or damage to the lens and cornea can cause a kitten to have a cloudy eye. Popularly, such an anomaly is called a “thorn.” In some cases, both eyes may become cloudy.

Symptoms

The main symptom is usually pronounced - a cloudy eye in a cat, but to make an accurate diagnosis it is necessary to take into account some nuances characteristic of a particular disease. There are 3 degrees of damage:

  • Total, when the eye cannot open at all.
  • Central - the center of the eye is directly affected.
  • Peripheral - a border is visible along the edge of the apple.

Often, simultaneously with clouding of the cat’s eye, changes in behavior or parallel signs are observed that make it possible to diagnose a specific pathology. Deterioration in vision is accompanied by uncertainty in gait, since the pet does not distinguish surrounding objects well enough.

The cat may develop squint, excitability, and nervousness. If there is an inflammatory process, then there is discharge, swelling of the mucous membrane, and pain.

You can establish the exact reason why a cat’s eye is cloudy by comprehensively examining the animal.

Causes

There are three main most common reasons why a cat's eye is cloudy.:

  1. Damage to the cornea causes clouding of the surface of the eye, but no color changes occur in depth. In this case, cloudiness occurs in any part of the eye. As a rule, this is a consequence of the development of inflammation in the tissues of the cornea. The inflammatory process can be caused by injury or infection. The disease is called keratitis. Any form of the disease is serious illness. This is explained by the fact that the consequence of the inflammatory process in the cornea is its degradation.
  2. Glaucoma. Increased intraocular pressure causes the eye to increase in size, and at the same time, there is a loss of the ability to see. Additionally, you can notice a lack of coordination of movements in the cat, a dilated pupil, a clouded cornea, which almost completely turns white and loses sensitivity. The animal bumps into surrounding objects due to loss of vision. Glaucoma can affect both eyes of a cat at the same time. As the disease progresses, the tissues of the eye become hard. The disease can be congenital or acute. Glaucoma is caused by lens luxation or keratitis.
  3. Cataract. The eye becomes cloudy in the center, near the pupil. Cataracts affect one or two eyes. Over time, the lens becomes opaque, almost white. The disease can appear after an infection, injury, or inflammatory process. Often the disease is associated with age-related metabolic disorders in the body and affects older cats.

Treatment

Today, timely therapy can be very successful. On early stages the cat will be prescribed medications, drops, and rinsing, especially if the eyes begin to fester. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have proven themselves to be excellent, but they can negatively affect the cat’s body with prolonged use.

In all cases, instilling antiseptic drops and applying ointments will be useful; this must be done systematically. They act as a moisturizer for the eyes and at the same time inhibit the development of pathogenic microorganisms.

The diet should be rich in vitamins A and E, which ensure restoration of the epithelial layer in the cornea.

If you contact a specialist late, surgical intervention and artificial implants are possible. For this reason, it is very important to contact veterinarian. Even the most seemingly harmless disease can eventually turn into blindness for your pet.



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