Four Common Feline Eye Diseases

By D Swain
When healthy, your cat should have bright and clear eyes. There are a few common feline eye diseases that you should be aware about. Some of these include glaucoma, retinal atrophy, and conjunctivitis. Let's take a look at some of these diseases.

Glaucoma

One of the first common feline eye diseases is glaucoma. This is a condition in which there is too much pressure on the inside of the eye. Glaucoma is the one of the leading causes of blindness in cats. In its early stages, glaucoma can be treated with medication aimed at reducing the internal eye pressure. If your cat is in an advanced stage, surgery may be required.

Retinal Atrophy

One of the next common feline eye diseases is progressive retinal atrophy. This is a condition in which your cat's retina degenerates or shrinks. Retinal atrophy can be inherited or caused by a lack of taurine in your cat's diet. The condition progresses very slowly, but will eventually cause your cat to become blind. Unfortunately, progressive retinal atrophy is untreatable.

Cataracts

Cataracts are usually a problem with older cats or those that have diabetes. This condition occurs when your cat's lens become cloudy making it difficult for him to see. Cataracts can be treated with surgery to remove the lens. In some cases, the cat may receive lens implants. If the problem is left untreated, it can result in glaucoma.

Conjunctivitis

One of the final common feline eye diseases is conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis occurs when the membrane that covers the eyelid and white of the eye becomes inflamed. It can be caused by viral, fungal, or bacterial infections. The condition can affect your cat if he has allergies. Chronic bouts with conjunctivitis is often caused by recurrent herpes viral infections.

As a cat owner, you want to keep your special friend as healthy as possible. To learn more about various cat illnesses such as Feline Calicivirus, stop by cat-illnesses.com. Your cat will thank you for it.

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