Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
breeds with shortened faces already know.The normal drainage system
for the tears does not function in these cats due to the size and shape
of the eyes and nose.They may also lack drainage ducts.
Allergies can trigger conjunctivitis or mild chronic tearing.
Intermittent use of an eye treatment that contains cortisone can help
cats with eye problems due to allergies.
Just as many people have “sleep” in their eyes each morning, so do
many cats.Wiping with a moist tissue or cotton ball should be enough
to clean most cats' eyes. Short-nosed cats, such as Persians, may need
their eyes cleaned two to three times a day to prevent buildup. If the
discharge is allowed to accumulate, it can cause hair loss and dermatitis
in the skin folds around the eyes.
Regarding ocular discharge, the general rule is that clear is good
and yellow or green is bad.A dark, crusty material in the corners of the
eyes can also be normal. Tears contain pigments that turn dark when
exposed to light.This coloration is not due to blood or infection.
Anterior Uveitis
Inflammation of the uveal tract (vascular and pigmented parts of the
eye) is called uveitis. Anterior uveitis involves the iris (the colored por-
tion of the eye surrounding the pupil) and the fluid-filled chamber in
front of it. Signs of anterior uveitis can include squinting, redness of the
eye, a cloudy appearance when looking into the eye, change of iris
color, abnormal pupil shape, tearing and a visible third eyelid.
There are various causes of this condition, but most often a specific
cause cannot be identified. Possibilities include trauma, viral infections
(including feline herpes, FeLV, FIV and FIP), fungal infections (such as
cryptococcus), parasitic infections (such as toxoplasmosis) and even can-
cer. Blood tests are useful for identifying some of the infectious causes.
Treatment for uveitis involves using topical and sometimes oral
anti-inflammatory drugs, along with treating any underlying disease.
Monitoring for secondary glaucoma is recommended, because inflam-
mation in the eye can lead to a buildup of fluid pressure in the eye
chamber.
Should You Worry About Blindness?
It is normal for the lenses in a cat's eyes to thicken with age and for clar-
ity of vision to diminish.Very few felines go blind from cataracts; blind-
ness is usually the result of another condition or trauma. If a cat loses
vision in one eye, an owner may not even realize it because the animal
