Cat Eyes Diseases And Treatments

Herpes Virus infection can lead to an inflammatory condition called Conjunctivitis Neonatorum in the eyes of cats. This virus enters into a cats eye through the eyelids. You should take precautionary measures to prevent cornea rupture and permanent scarring of your cats eye. Medication should be applied by opening the eyes of your cat.

Dry Eye

Eyelids are essential for a healthy cornea. The eyelids of a cat perform many functions including protecting the cornea and outer part of the eyes. They also help the cats to keep the light out and decide the shape and size of the eye opening. They secrete tears and spread them over supplying oxygen and nutrients too. Dry eye or Keratoconjunctivitis sicca occurs when the cornea is deprived of enough tear film that consists of food and oxygen. Lack of enough tear film will lead to pigmentation, scarring and ulceration of cornea. It can also lead to partial vision loss in cats. Like human beings, your cat will experience dry eye burn and sting on a windy day. A tear test can be done to know the amount of tears secreted by the eyes of a cat in a minute. In dry eye conditions, one will normally find lower level of tear production.

Causes Of Dry Eye

Normally the kittens eyelids open after 10-14 days of birth. There is no tear production if the eyelids open too early. In this case, eye lubricants must be administered three to four times a day until the production of tears begins. In the absence of lubrication dry eye occurs.

Breeds that have long protruding eyes such as Himalayans, Persians, Exotic Shorthairs and Burmese undergo trauma and many of these may have Lagophthalmos, an inherited eyelid disorder. This is a condition of lazy eyelids where they do not open or close properly, and will not be able to spread tears efficiently. This condition leads to an increased risk of secondary corneal ulcers and dry eye. The above-mentioned breeds are also prone to Entropion in lower eyelids, an inherited condition where the eyelids turn inward. This condition leads to irritation in eyes. Dry eye can also be caused by Chronic Herpes virus infection.

Dry Eye Treatments

Certain anti-cancer drugs can be used to stimulate the production of tears in cats. Consult your vet if you suspect dry eye. If your cat does not respond to medication, you can go for the surgical procedure Parotid Duct Transposition (PDT). It will yield results. The absence of treatment can lead to bacterial infections, recurrent corneal ulcers and blindness in some cases.

Inherited Eye Disorders

Eyelash disease is an inherited disorder in which eyelashes or hairs injure the eyes. Triciasis, a condition common in Persian cats, irritates the eye with hairs. The hairs near the nose irritate the eye that may lead to conjunctivitis. It can be prevented through regular trimming of facial hairs.

In Entropion, the eyelids roll inward leading to eyelashes touching the eye surface. This condition can be painful and involves both the eyes. The absence of treatment can lead to partial vision loss and conjunctivitis. The common signs of this condition are tearing and squinting of eyes. The breeds that are at higher risk of this condition are Persian and Himalayan cats.