Dry eye in cats is a disease that can affect all types of cats. If this disease is neglected it can lead to serious consequences.
Keratoconjunctivitis, commonly known as dry eye in cats, is a disease that affects all types of cats, regardless of age, race or sex.
Dry eye in cats occurs when the amount of tears produced by the cat’s eye glands are not enough.
This causes dryness, inflammation and irritation to the cornea of the cat’s eye. A cat suffering from keratoconjunctivitis and not being treated properly can go completely blind.
Let’s see together with this article what are the symptoms and causes of this disease and what should be done to solve this problem.
Dry eye in cats: symptoms
Among the many symptoms of dry eye in cats, the most obvious is the formation of yellow-green mucus present in the corners of the cat’s eyes.
Another very common symptom is conjunctivitis in cats. The pain caused by dry eye can make your cat restless. Other common symptoms of dry eye are:
- Sensitivity to light
- Swelling of the eyelids
- Scratches on the face
It must be remembered that if the cat is not treated in the right way it risks serious vision problems.
Dry eye in cats: causes
Causes of dry cat’s eye are varied, including:
- Eye injuries: Although it happens rarely, dry eye can be caused by an eye injury or trauma.
- Third Eyelid Removal: In both dogs and cats, the third eyelid is the one that produces most of the tears, keeping the eye moist. Without this the cat could suffer from keratoconjunctivitis. Fortunately, the removal of the third eyelid is no longer performed, in fact the veterinarian intervenes to reposition it and avoid removing it.
- Feline Herpesvirus: Dry eye in cats usually occurs due to a very common chronic disease in felines, Feline Herpesvirus. The latter is a very contagious respiratory disease in cats, very dangerous and with no cure available. The only thing to do in order to prevent this disease is to vaccinate the cat.
How to cure dry eye
There are many options for treating dry eye in cats, the most classic treatment being the administration of lubricating eye drops. It is possible to use various types of eye drops including:
– Artificial eye drops – Antibiotic eye drops for infection – Mucolytic eye drops to loosen mucus.
In more severe cases, surgery may be required. The only person who can decide which is the right option for treating your beloved cat is the vet, so it is always wise to take your feline to a specialist.
