Why Snakes Get “Stuck” Eyecaps (and How to Handle It)

There is a common misconception that snakes can blink. However, given that snakes do not possess eyelids, this is impossible to do. Instead, snakes have a very unique covering to their eyes that helps to keep them clean, uninjured, and lubricated.

Instead of eyelids, snakes have eye caps. They are clear and therefore invisible to the eye. This fact only changes when a snake gets a “stuck” eye cap. It is then that the eye cap changes color and can be lifted, making life very uncomfortable for a snake, which makes it a necessity to remove it.

Snakes Shed Their Skin, Including Their Eyecaps

Most people are aware that snakes shed their skin. What may not be as commonly known is that snakes have to shed the caps over their eyes when that skin is shed. Snakes do not have eyelids to protect their eyes from debris, prevent injury, or keep the eyes lubricated. Instead, they have spectacles or eye caps that protect the eyes. The eye cap is essentially a clear scale over the eye. This cap is shed as the skin is shed on the body.

How often the eye cap is shed depends on how often the snake’s skin is shed. The younger the snake, the more often they sheds their skin, as they are growing. The older the snake, the less often this occurs. Typically, however, the skin is shed four to 12 times per year.

The factors that impact shedding include:

• Nutrition
• Environment
• Age

If the nutrition and environment are optimal for the snake, it will shed its skin without issue. But, if either of these elements is subpar, it can cause issues with shedding, including the eye cap getting stuck.

What Causes Snake Eye Caps To Get “Stuck”

A snake eye cap getting stuck is not something that snakes in their natural habitats typically deal with consistently. If they do, it means that the snake is sick, or it has mites or ticks. Snakes in captivity get their eye caps stuck more frequently than those in the wild. This means that when the snake sheds, the scale over the eye, or the eye cap, is not removed with the rest of the shed. Instead, it gets stuck over the new eye cap, causing the snake to have less clear vision than it should.

When the snake’s eye cap is stuck, there is a scale on the eye that is part of the snake’s old skin. Sometimes, it is not always apparent that an eye cap is still intact. Some signs that the eye cap needs to be removed include:

• Clouded eye
• Holes in the shedded skin where the eye should have been
• Aggression that is not usually present
• Nervousness that is not usually present
• No desire to eat

If this happens, likely, the eye cap has not been removed. This will need to be removed for the health of the snake.

The most frequent reasons for eye caps getting stuck over the snake’s eyes include:

• Not enough humidity in the snake’s environment, leading to dehydration
• Few to no rough surfaces in the snake’s vivarium or terrarium to help them shed their skin
• Not enough food or the wrong food can lead to problems with shedding

Each species of snake requires different levels of humidity and nutrition. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to caring for snakes. It is a necessity to provide the appropriate environment for snakes so that they can thrive while in captivity.

Why Snake Eye Caps Need To Be Removed

The snake’s eye cap should come off in one piece with the rest of the snake’s old skin when it is shedding. However, when this does not happen and the eye cap gets stuck, it needs to be removed to prevent an infection or eye trauma from occurring in the snake.

For those who would like to let the snake try to remove the eye cap on its own, suggestions to help the snake do so include:

• Raise the humidity in the snake’s habitat
• Give the snake a warm bowl of water to soak itself, making sure the snake can keep its head out of the water (make sure to supervise the snake if this approach is taken)
• Dampen (not soak) a pillowcase and place the snake inside for 30 minutes

If this does not work, it is necessary to take the snake to a veterinarian. While some state that a properly trained snake owner can remove the eye cap, it is not recommended. According to petMD, once the snake is at the veterinarian, a gel is most likely used in the snake’s eye. It will then be gently wiped with a damp sponge to remove the cap. Should this prove unsuccessful, it may be necessary to use a surgical tool to ensure the safe removal of the eye cap.