Common Eye Diseases In The Cats

There are quite a few eye diseases that your cat is vulnerable to. Here is a brief on common eye diseases for cats.

Conjunctivitis Neonatorum

Conjunctivitis Neonatorum is an eye disease in which the white tissue lining of the eyelids, called conjunctiva, becomes red and swollen. This is known to be caused by Herpes Virus and mainly occurs in kittens. Herpes Virus is capable of entering even closed lids. To avoid this, suitable measures can be taken before the cornea bursts and causes permanent scarring in the eye. Prevention consists of application of medicated eye cream after opening the eyes.

Dry Eye Syndrome

Dry eye is another eye disease that is of common occurrence in cats. The disease is medically termed as Keratoconjunctivitis sicca. The eyelids around protect the cornea from dust and powerful light. The cornea requires oxygen and other nutrients to maintain its health. Tear glands help the cornea receive adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients. If the cornea does not receive these it leads to Dry Eye Syndrome. The reason for this disease is mainly due to loss of tear film. It results in the cornea becoming scarred and pigmented. In some cases there might be partial loss of vision as well. However, Dry Eye can be avoided by applying eye lubricant to the eyes of a new born kitten. Surgery is performed in cases where the lubricant does not show any positive results.

Eyelash Disease

Diseases that occur because of injury from eyelash are collectively termed as Eyelash Disease.

If the facial hair on the side of the eye irritates the eye leading to conjunctivitis the condition is termed as Trichiasis. This is very common in Persian cats that tend to have long hair. Trimming the hair regularly decreases the chances of developing this disease. Trichiasis is a hereditary disease.

Entropion

This is a hereditary disease. It causes the eyelids of the cat to roll inwards. As a result the eyelashes touch the inside of the eye. This can be very painful and usually affects both the eyes. If the condition is not treated on time, partial or complete loss of vision can occur along with conjunctivitis. Sign of Entropion are squinting or a visible tear in the eye. Surgery is performed to correct the position of the eyelid so that it no longer faces inwards.

There are also other hereditary diseases of the eye that normally occur in cats. Disorders of the cornea and retina are the most common ones. It can be quite difficult to detect these diseases if they reach an advanced stage. However, getting the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF) examination done regularly, owners can find out if their cat suffers from any hereditary eye disease. The exam can be conducted by any certified veterinary eye doctor. Owners should take their cats at a young age for the CERF exam. Before bringing home a kitten find out whether the parents of your pet were CERF certified. Potential risk to the future generations can be nullified by spaying or neutering the cat.