Cats and Cataracts

 

When you visit your eye doctor, one of the things they check for is the presence of cataracts.  These spots can show up very early so your ophthalmologist can monitor their progression during your visits.  Finding them early before they become a problem will help you deal with them.  The same can be true in cats.

Part of any regular vet check-up visit will likely include a visual examination of your cat's eyes to look for any changes related to aging, illness or trauma that might impact how they see.  Another reason why regular visits are so important.

In both humans and cats, cataracts are among several conditions that impact the eye lens, or cornea, which is the clear surface of the eye that adjusts its shape to get light to the retina, which processes and sends visual information to the brain.  If a cataract is there, as it is for BCR's Merlin, it causes a cloudiness in the lens that keeps light from getting through, making it hard to see.  It's a degenerative condition that, if not treated, can cause total blindness.  They can be small spots or, if not treated, cataracts can grow to cover the whole eye area, making it look milky-white and opaque.  At that point the eye can't see at all.  Regular eye exams with your vet will help catch cataracts early and stop them from getting to that point.

credit: www.pdsa.org

What causes cataracts isn't just related to age, although older cats do get them more frequently. Other conditions - like diabetes or hypertension - that cause a cat's system not to be able to metabolize proteins can also trigger them.  Eye injuries and some toxic substances may also be to blame.

Before your vet diagnoses a cataract in your cats eyes, you may see signs at home that tell you your cat isn't seeing things as well as he used to.  You might notice that he bumps into things, has trouble finding the food bowls or litter box, and may be reluctant to go up or down stairs. These are very small things that cat parents really need to be on the lookout for.  If your cat seems "off" in doing the things he or she regularly does, it's an alarm signal.

In addition to actually seeing the cataract in your cat's eye, the vet may want to do some blood tests to figure out exactly what's impacting your cat's vision.  They'll look at sugar levels, whether or not the kidneys and liver are working properly, and if your cat might have an infection or anemia.  Blood tests will also help the vet have a good sense of your cat's overall health.

If your vet diagnoses your cat with a cataract, there are several treatment options available.  Wagwalking.com lists four primary ones.  If a cataract is caught early and is small, there are eye-drop medications that can be used to treat it.  If diabetes or hypertension is part of the picture, the vet may want to treat those conditions as well.  If the cataract is advanced, the vet may opt for surgery and refer you to a veterinary ophthalmologist who specializes in this and other eye procedures.

The recovery or ongoing treatment process requires dedicated pet parents who will follow the vet's guidelines for delivering medications and watch for improvement or problems.  If your cat needs surgery, the recovery will likely involve medication and an Elizabethan collar of some kind to keep him from injuring the eye.  For any cataract treatment, regular follow-up visits to your vet or ophthalmologist will be critical to making sure the treatment is working.

Like so many things about cat health, it takes observant owners and regular vet care to find, diagnose and treat cataracts.

CLICK HERE to read more about cataracts from wagwalking.com

CLICK HERE to read more about cataracts from pethealthnetwork.com