Cataracts in cats

Cataracts Could Be the Problem, cataracts in cats. Could you find your way from the kitchen to bathroom wearing a pair of glasses smeared with grease? Unfortunately, the world can look this hazy to cats that have cataracts. Although cataracts are often associated with aging, this eye problem can also affect younger cats.

The lens of the eye works much like the lens of a camera, helping to focus on objects so the cat can see them clearly. When cataracts affect a big part of the lens, they cause vision loss and may lead to blindness. Every cat experiences cataracts differently. A cataract may develop rapidly or over a period of time. There are four stages of cataracts:. One of the more common signs is a change in the appearance of the eye. A healthy eye has a transparent pupil, while an eye with cataracts will have a cloudy white film covering part or all of the pupil.

Cataracts in cats

In humans, cataracts are the world's leading cause of blindness. Cataracts in cats are rare, but the disease is still serious; if left untreated, it may lead to blindness. Thankfully, many cases of feline cataracts can be successfully treated. Cataracts affect the lens of the eye. The lens helps to focus vision as light that passes through the eye, allowing your cat to see. If this small structure becomes cloudy due to a cataract, it can no longer focus light resulting in blurry vision. The lens is made of mostly proteins and water. Clouding of the lens occurs due to changes in the proteins and lens fibers. Cataracts in cats are less common than they are in humans and dogs. Furthermore, while humans and dogs can develop cataracts due to diabetes, cats with diabetes typically don't get cataracts. They are also most common among older cats, and Burmese and Himalayan cats are genetically predisposed to the condition. However, cats of all ages and breeds can be affected.

References Glaze, M.

The lens in a feline eye—like the lens in a human or canine eye—is a small, translucent structure that adjusts its shape as needed to focus incoming light rays on the retina, a light-sensitive tissue that lines the interior surface of the eyeball. When the retina receives light impulses that have passed through the lens, the impulses are instantaneously transmitted to the brain as visual information via the optic nerve, which is attached to the back of the eye. A cataract is a condition in which the lens becomes cloudy or totally opaque. When this happens, incoming light is impeded, if not totally prevented, from passing through the eye to the retina. In some cases, the affected area of the lens may be tiny, and the resulting impairment in vision will be inconsequential.

The lens in a feline eye—like the lens in a human or canine eye—is a small, translucent structure that adjusts its shape as needed to focus incoming light rays on the retina, a light-sensitive tissue that lines the interior surface of the eyeball. When the retina receives light impulses that have passed through the lens, the impulses are instantaneously transmitted to the brain as visual information via the optic nerve, which is attached to the back of the eye. A cataract is a condition in which the lens becomes cloudy or totally opaque. When this happens, incoming light is impeded, if not totally prevented, from passing through the eye to the retina. In some cases, the affected area of the lens may be tiny, and the resulting impairment in vision will be inconsequential.

Cataracts in cats

The lens of the eye works much like the lens of a camera, helping to focus on objects so the cat can see them clearly. When cataracts affect a big part of the lens, they cause vision loss and may lead to blindness. Every cat experiences cataracts differently. A cataract may develop rapidly or over a period of time. There are four stages of cataracts:. One of the more common signs is a change in the appearance of the eye. A healthy eye has a transparent pupil, while an eye with cataracts will have a cloudy white film covering part or all of the pupil. Your veterinarian will likely refer you to a veterinary ophthalmologist, who specializes in eye diseases, to ensure your cat is diagnosed correctly. The following tests help confirm the diagnosis:.

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Your veterinary ophthalmologist will want to see your cat a number of times after surgery to make sure she is healing and there are no complications. For non-surgical candidates, cataracts can be managed by reducing inflammation in the eye that may lead to secondary problems. If this small structure becomes cloudy due to a cataract, it can no longer focus light resulting in blurry vision. Progression of cataracts can vary depending on the cause, how quickly intervention is sought, and the age of the patient. Surgery isn't always needed for cataracts. Cataracts Could Be the Problem. Surgery isn't an option for all cats, as animals must be healthy enough to tolerate a surgical procedure. However, it can progress and become more significant. Treatment The only treatment for a cataract is to remove it through surgery. Patty Khuly Dr. Types of Feline Cataracts Cataracts are classified according to severity and percentage of the lens affected. Treating Feline Cataracts Identifying and addressing the underlying cause of cataracts is the primary approach to treatment. This is most easily done in a dark room with the pupil fully dilated. They are also most common among older cats, and Burmese and Himalayan cats are genetically predisposed to the condition. Impulses then travel to the brain for conversion to images.

In humans, cataracts are the world's leading cause of blindness.

The lens of the eye works much like the lens of a camera, helping to focus on objects so the cat can see them clearly. Feline Cataracts. Germany - Deutschland. Uveitis is inflammation inside the eye that can result from an infection, disease, or trauma. Italy - Italia. During cataract surgery, a veterinarian removes the cloudy lens and replaces it with an artificial lens. Kennard, G. Accessibility View Close toolbar. Patty Khuly is an award-winning veterinarian known for her independent thinking, her spirited pet advocacy, her passion for the veterinary profession, and her famously irreverent pet health writing. Hypermature cataract is when the lens starts to shrivel up due to water and protein loss. Adequate intake of amino acids the building blocks of protein are important for eye development in tigers. Contributor Bio Dr. They can occur in one or both eyes. Hereditary cataracts in Russian Blue cats.