| The most common disorder in cats is runny eyes. | | | | Leukemia Virus (FeLV), Feline Immunodeficiency |
| Infectious organisms such as the flu viruses or | | | | Virus (FIV) and toxoplasmosis can all cause |
| chlamydia cause conjunctivitis, an inflammation of | | | | disease in the iris. |
| the membranes lining the eyelids. This results in a | | | | The first sign an owner may notice is a change in |
| discharge which is either watery and runny or | | | | color of the eye. |
| thick and a greenish yellow color. | | | | Close examination reveals changes in the shape of |
| Occasionally a runny eye is caused by a disorder | | | | the iris and the presence of debris in the fluid |
| of the normal anatomy. | | | | behind the cornea. It is very difficult to distinguish |
| Tear glands continually produce secretions which | | | | which one of these infections has caused the |
| lubricate the surface of the eyeball and flush | | | | abnormality, so further investigation is always |
| particulate material into the tear ducts which then | | | | necessary. |
| drain into the nose. If there's a blockage of the | | | | If there is a diseased iris, also have to consider |
| ducts, the tears have no choice but to spill over | | | | the possibility of a tumor. T he two most |
| and run down the face. Blockage can occur if | | | | commonly encountered are lymphosarcoma, a |
| there has been previous damage to the ducts or | | | | solid form of leukemia, and melanoma, a cancer |
| if the cat has an abnormal anatomy. | | | | of the pigment producing cells. |
| Persian cats frequently have tear staining, partly | | | | If an iris has been affected by a treatable |
| because their tear ducts are kinked and partly | | | | condition, it may be left with permanent color |
| because their eyeball shape prevents effective | | | | change and a distorted shape because of |
| drainage. Chronic tear overspill causes a brown | | | | adhesions or scar tissue produced during the |
| staining on the fur which is most noticeable in pale | | | | healing response. Not all areas of new pigment are |
| colored cats. | | | | associated with disease. Some cats, particularly |
| Runny eyes are also a result of tear | | | | orange colored individuals, can develop little dark |
| overproduction if there is an irritation to the | | | | patches of pigment in the iris as they age, but |
| sensitive eyeball. The cause may be easily | | | | any change in eye color should always be |
| identified as in some longhaired cats where a | | | | checked by your vet. |
| clump of hair rubs the surface. Some can be | | | | The retina is a fine membranous structure which |
| much more difficult to detect; solitary aberrant | | | | lines the back of the eyeball. |
| hairs may grow inside the eyelid and can only be | | | | Light passes through the pupil and the lens and |
| discovered by carrying out an extremely | | | | lands on the retina. |
| thorough examination under general anaesthetic. | | | | There it stimulates nerve endings which cause |
| The cornea is the clear outer covering of the | | | | electrical signals to be sent to the brain where the |
| eyeball and is a very sensitive structure. Flu | | | | information is interpreted as vision. |
| infections can sometimes extend beyond the | | | | Any abnormality of the color, the reflectivity or |
| membranes and also affect the corneas. In very | | | | the blood vessels indicates disease of the retina. |
| young kittens, the damage can be so severe that | | | | One of the most serious conditions is a |
| the cornea is extensively scarred and the cat | | | | generalized degeneration of the retina. The retina |
| grows up visually impaired or even blind. | | | | appears to be very bright. |
| Most corneal disease is encountered as a result of | | | | Blood vessels become much finer and in advanced |
| a bit of a punch up with another cat and a claw | | | | cases are barely visible. |
| being poked in the eye. The puncture wound may | | | | The retina can detach from the underlying tissue |
| be very obvious, particularly if a bit of claw is left | | | | if there is a leakage or overproduction of fluid |
| behind in the eyeball. | | | | between the layers, or if there is bleeding. |
| In other cases there may be no apparent | | | | High blood pressure resulting from kidney failure |
| defects. | | | | or an overactive thyroid gland can cause this eye |
| Mild corneal damage will heal well if the cat is | | | | problem. |
| supported with antibiotics but more severe | | | | Retinal detachments tend to be quite dramatic in |
| damage may require surgery. Stitching the eyelids | | | | onset and owners report that the cat appears to |
| together often helps with the healing. | | | | have gone blind overnight. The pupils are |
| The iris is the structure which gives the eye its | | | | massively dilated and instead of a smooth |
| color, ranging from pink in albinos, to blue in | | | | concave surface there are billowing folds of retina. |
| Siamese, through all shades of yellows, coppers | | | | There is virtually no hope of restoration of |
| and greens. The iris is a muscular structure which | | | | eyesight in these cases. |
| contracts and expands in order to vary the | | | | The thought of a blind cat is quite horrifying to |
| amount of light which passes through to the back | | | | most owners but a combination of the cat not |
| of the eye. | | | | knowing it's supposed to worry about its lack of |
| It has very delicate blood vessels and if a claw | | | | vision and its other senses being so well |
| has managed to pierce through the cornea to the | | | | developed means they actually cope remarkably |
| iris, the bleeding can be very dramatic. | | | | well. If the environment is kept as constant as |
| Some of the more unpleasant feline infections, | | | | possible, most individuals adapt very well to their |
| Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) virus, Feline | | | | surroundings. |