Common Cat Eye Diseases

As loving and protective cat parents, we are almost constantly worried about the general health and well-being of our furry munchkins. This also causes cat parents to unnecessarily worry about health conditions and cat eye diseases that do not always call for extreme measures, such as common eye infections like conjunctivitis in cats. So, here are some of the common types of cat eye infections to be mindful of, various watery eyes cats treatment and cat eye infection treatment and the frequent causes that will not just put your mind at ease, but also allow you to adequately treat your furry friend to relieve its discomfort and stress in times of need.

Types of Cat Infection

1. Conjunctivitis (pinkeye)

   Conjunctivitis, or pinkeye, is one of the most common cat eye infections that can affect cats irrespective of their age. Conjunctivitis can be both viral and bacterial, and results in the inflammation of the mucous membrane of the inner layer of the eyelid in cats. Although cat conjunctivitis as a common cat eye infection does not pose any significant risk, it can still be uncomfortable to our furry munchkins, and must be treated appropriately with cat conjunctivitis treatment or watery eyes cats treatment for a speedy recovery.

2. Corneal Disorders

   The clear, thin layer that covers the iris and the pupil of the eye on cats is known as the cornea, and is often subjected to various types of anomalies triggered by environmental hazards. Corneal dystrophy is a common corneal disorder in cats characterized by white and gray lesions that appear on the cornea. Although corneal dystrophy is a rare occurrence in cats, severe cases of corneal dystrophy can lead to sore eye cats and even vision loss.

3. Watery, tearing eyes (epiphora)

   Epiphora in cats often results in watery, teary eyes caused by an excessive production of year by the glands present near the eye in cats. While tear production is a normal bodily function, excess tear production can hint at underlying health disorders in cats. While epiphora does not cause any pain in cats and can subside without any cat eye infection treatment or eye discharge in cats treatment, it can cause sore eye cats and leave stubborn tear stains on your adorable munchkin's face.

4. Dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca)

   Conjunctivitis Sicca, or commonly known as the dry eye disorder in cats, is one of the commonest cat eyes diseases. It prevents the tear glands near the eyes from producing adequate tear, causing the mucous lining and the cornea of the inner eye to suffer from dryness. This leads to sore eye cats, eye irritation, and sensitivity to light, making it crucial to get proper cat eye infection treatment.

Conjunctivitis in Cats?

Of the types of cat eyes diseases and disorders cats frequently suffer from, cat conjunctivitis is easily the most common and can affect our furry munchkins multiple times across their lifetime. Cat conjunctivitis can be both viral or bacterial and is characterised by a painful, uncomfortable inflammation of the conjunctiva or the mucous layer of the inner layer of the eyelids.

Causes of conjunctivitis?

Depending on the type, conjunctivitis in cats is clinically categorised under infectious and non-infectious conditions:

1. Feline herpesvirus - Type 1

   Feline herpesvirus - Type 1 is a primary form of conjunctivitis in cats, that is triggered by the feline herpesvirus (FHV-1), and is possibly the most common type of conjunctival infection in cats. This eye condition is also highly infectious, and can result in reddening or swelling of the eye and cat cataracts accompanied with cat cloudy eye and ocular discharges. This type of conjunctivitis in cats that causes cat cataracts can be really uncomfortable, and usually takes two weeks to subside without external intervention.

2. Feline calicivirus

   Feline calicivirus is a common trigger for upper respiratory disorders in cats and can even lead to an inflammation of the conjunctival tissues and membranes, even leading to corneal ulcer cat. Although conjunctivitis and corneal ulcer cat caused by feline calicivirus is rare, it can cause significant discomfort, also resulting in ocular discharges that are yellow or green in colour, cat cloudy eye, nasal congestion and sneezing and might require eye drop for cats infection for a steady recovery.

3. Chlamydia

   Pink eye in cats as well as other cat eye infection can also be triggered by the feline chlamydial bacteria that is present in the cells of the body and is highly contagious in nature. While Chlamydia can affect cats of all ages, kittens are usually more affected than adult cats, and can result in inflamed corneal and conjunctival membrane and cat cloudy eye, making it crucial to seek watery eyes cats treatment as well as eye discharge in cats treatment.

4. Mycoplasma

   Mycoplasma felis is a bacterium commonly found in the upper respiratory tract of cats and as secondary opportunistic pathogens, can trigger eye problem in cats like cat conjunctivitis in younger felines.

How to diagnose conjunctivitis?

As the most common type of cat eye infection, conjunctivitis in cats can be diagnosed through distinct symptoms. Since conjunctivitis is a common eye problem in cats and it causes the mucous layer to be inflamed, it can trigger the tear glands in cats, leading to an abnormal tearing or watering from the infected eyes or both. This is also accompanied with excessive discharge that has a cloudy, yellow or greenish appearance, as well as reddened conjunctival membranes that need to be treated with proper cat conjunctivitis treatment or cat weepy eye home remedy.

The discomfort of conjunctivitis or pink eye in cats can also cause cats to frequently blink, or keep their eyes closed for longer hours. Conjunctivitis also causes the eyes to be sensitive to light, leading to photophobia, where cats have to squint to see. Severe cases of conjunctivitis can also result in the conjunctival tissue to be swollen, partially or completely covering the eyes.

Your veterinarian may diagnose conjunctivitis in cats through tests such as:

1. Staining the cornea with fluorescein dye to check for corneal damages.
2. Measuring ear production and eye pressure.
3. Blood tests to determine whether your kitty is suffering from any systemic condition leading to cat conjunctivitis.

How to treat conjunctivitis?

Conjunctivitis or pink eye in cats is generally harmless and does not cause any lingering damage to the eye. However, cases of conjunctivitis in cats are still uncomfortable and annoying, causing substantial distress in feline furries and must be treated at the earliest. Here are some of the common red eye in cats treatments for conjunctivitis in cats:

1. Severe cases of conjunctivitis in cats can be treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics and medicine for cat eye infection to reduce the bacterial infestation.
2. Anti-inflammatory drugs can also help in reducing the inflammation and swelling of the conjunctival layer.
3. Topical ointments and eye drop for cats available for feline use can also work well in neutralizing bacterial action and quick relief.
4. Your veterinarian may also recommend topical medications for cat pink eye treatment to prevent any allergic reaction.