Cat eye

Red eyes occur in cats when there is a change of color in the white part of the eyeball. Typically, redness indicates that an underlying condition has stimulated the blood vessels to bring more blood to the eye.

Eyelid-gland masses in cats form when the glands that lubricate the eyelids (meibomian glands) become overly full and/or infected.

Eye discharge in cats describes an abnormal amount or type of drainage of tears, mucus, blood, pus, or other fluid from the eye.

Dacryocystitis is a rare condition in cats where there is some form of obstruction of the tear ducts.

Swollen eyes occur when the eyelid, eyeball, or other structures of the eye increase in size due to irritation, injury, or inflammation. Often, swelling of the eyes and associated tissues results in voluntarily closing the eyes or in being swollen shut.

Sunken eyes (also known as enophthalmos) occur when the eyeball sinks back into the head. Sunken eyes are unusual in cats, and commonly are the result of changes to the size of the eyeball or to the structures that hold the eyeball in place.

A bulging eye in cats may be characterized as abnormal enlargement of the eyeball (referred to as buphthalmos) or as protrusion of the eye beyond the socket (referred to as exophthalmos).

Conjunctivitis in cats is inflammation of the pink tissue surrounding the eye and lining the underside of the eyelids.

Cats experience different types of eye infections from bacterial, fungal, viral, or parasitic agents that infect the conjunctiva, cornea, eyelids, or interior structures, leading to conjunctivitis, keratitis, blepharitis, or uveitis, respectively.

Blastomycosis is a fungal infection in cats caused by the fungus Blastomyces dermatitidis, which is commonly found in soil around bodies of water. Cases are most commonly identified around the Ohio, Mississippi, Tennessee, and St. Lawrence rivers.

Proptosis is a condition in which the eyeball pops forward, trapping the eyelids behind it. In some cases, the eyeball comes out of the socket entirely.

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) in cats is a genetically inherited  condition that destroys retinal cells required for vision. PRA inevitably leads to blindness. PRA is caused by a variety of genetic defects and is most common in Abyssinian and Persian cats.

Acromegaly in cats is a disease caused by a growth hormone-secreting tumor of the pituitary gland. Excessive growth hormone affects the entire body, causing abnormal growth of the internal organs (organomegaly), and sometimes the bones of the face and feet.

Lead poisoning in cats is caused by the presence of toxic amounts of lead in the body. When lead poisoning does occur in cats, it is thought to be from self-grooming of lead-containing particles from the fur, but in most cases, there is no known exposure. 

Coccidioidomycosis in cats is a systemic infection caused by inhalation of dust-borne fungal spores of Coccidioides immitis or Coccidioides posadasii. Coccidioides is endemic in dry, desert areas and outbreaks commonly occur after dust storms.

A portosystemic shunt (PSS) occurs in cats when abnormal blood flow from the digestive and ancillary organs bypasses the liver. Blood from the digestive and enzyme-secreting organs normally flows through into the liver where toxins are processed before being eliminated by the kidneys.

Feline herpesvirus (FHV) is a common and highly contagious respiratory illness in cats resulting from infection with type 1 Feline Herpesvirus (FHV-1). Transmission occurs through direct or indirect, contact with nasal or eye secretions

Foxtails and other grasses produce seeds that have evolved to stick to hair and penetrate skin as a dispersal mechanism. Grass awns penetrate the body through the skin or tissue around the eyes, but are also often found in the mouth, nose, or ears.

The pupil is the opening in the center of the eye. Dilated pupils in cats occur normally in response to decreased light levels and some physiologic conditions, such as during the natural fear response.

Blindness in cats can appear varies in severity and can include partial or full blindness. Cats are especially good at learning their environment and adapting to vision loss, so detection of vision loss can be difficult.

The retina is at the back of the eye and converts light and nerve impulses into vision. The retina can become detached from its underlying tissue causing partial or complete blindness in cats. 

Babesiosis in cats is a serious tick-borne disease resulting from infection with the Babesia parasite. Transmission of Babesia involves a bite from an infected tick of the Ixodes tick family.

Crossed eyes (strabismus) is a common symptom in cats where one or both eyes have abnormal, persistent positioning. Strabismus can be congenital and is most often seen in Siamese, Himalayan, and flame point Persian breeds.

Blepharospasm is a term that describes repeated, spasmodic movement of the eyelids, commonly referred to as squinting. Blepharospasm is a broad symptom that is seen as a feature of different underlying diseases in cats, including injury, infection, inflammation, and developmental abnormalities.

Tumors of the eye, defined as abnormal cell growth in or around the eyes, are uncommon in cats. Most eye tumors are malignant, aggressive, fast-growing, and likely to spread throughout the body where they have serious consequences.

Blepharitis is inflammation of the upper or lower eyelid. This condition can affect one or both eyes, and the experience is uncomfortable. Blepharitis is common in cats and is caused by a variety of underlying conditions including infections, birth defects, allergies, immune conditions, environmental irritants, and cancers.

A coloboma, sometimes called a “hole in the eye,” is a congenital condition where tissues in one or more structures of the eye fail to form properly. Eyelid colobomas involve a portion of the eyelid being absent, impacting function.

The uvea describes the internal structures of the eyeball. Uveitis is inflammation of the uvea, and has a number of underlying causes. Urgent care is required for any cat that develops symptoms of uveitis, as the condition is often painful and can result in vision loss.

The cornea is the transparent cover over the front of the eye. When inflamed, it swells with fluid (edema), and becomes cloudy. Corneal edema may appear as a hazy, blue, or milky opacity covering the surface of the colored part of the eye.

Lens prolapse, or luxation, is when the lens of the eye becomes dislocated from its proper position. A dislocated lens can move into the front (anterior) or the rear (posterior) of the eye, and may be primary (inherited) or secondary (occurring due to another condition).