7 Most Common Cat Eye Problems

1. Conjunctivitis

The conjunctiva is a thin membrane that lines the eyelids and covers the white part of the eye. When this membrane becomes inflamed, it is called conjunctiva. This condition is caused by allergies, dry eye, irritants, and infections. It’s nearly impossible to tell why your cat has conjunctivitis until you take them to the vet.

Symptoms of conjunctivitis include redness, squinting, and discharge. It’s often pretty easy to tell that your cat has something wrong with their eye, but it’s impossible to know exactly what without further diagnosis.

2. Keratitis

This eye condition occurs when the cornea gets inflamed. This is the clear outer layer of the eye, and it can become infected in several ways. Most often, it’s caused by some sort of damage to the eye, such as scratches. Dry eye can also cause this condition, as it makes the eye more susceptible to small scratches.

Symptoms are very similar to conjunctivitis, as the eye is still infected. The cornea is often red and cloudy, which is the darker part of the eye. Symptoms include squinting.

3. Corneal Ulcers

Sores can also cause pain and squinting without being infected. When this occurs, they’re called ulcers. These injuries can occur for all sorts of reasons, including scratches, infections, or foreign objects in the eye. You can expect a lot of squinting, tearing, redness, and cloudiness.

Corneal ulcers can be very painful and lead to infections. They can develop vision loss if not treated promptly.

4. Glaucoma

This condition can be caused by so many different factors, including a blockage of the drainage channels in the eye or an overproduction of the fluid in the eye. Some other conditions can lead to it, too. Your vet will need to perform additional tests to figure out what it is.

Symptoms typically include general eye discomfort. Your cat may display squinting and redness. Their eye may be enlarged in very severe situations. Without treatment, this condition can lead to blindness.

5. Cataracts

Caratacts develop when there is a cloudiness in the lens of the eye. It’s most common in older cats, just like it is most common in dogs and humans. However, some conditions make cataracts more common, such as diabetes, trauma, and other medical conditions.

Cataracts often interfere with vision, but they don’t have to cause blindness. In many cases, it just makes the vision cloudy. You can get the cataracts removed. However, this is often expensive, and not all vets can perform the surgery.

6. Entropion

This condition occurs when the eyelid rolls inward. The eyelashes and fur irritate the eye, causing ulcers and other conditions. Infections are very common if this condition is not corrected. Some breeds, like Persians and Himalayans, are more prone to this condition than others.

You can often visually see the eyelid flip inwards. However, you may also notice tearing, redness, and discharge. The symptoms are exceptionally similar to other conditions.

Therefore, taking your cat to the vet for a diagnosis is important.

7. Uveitis

This condition is the inflammation of the uvea. Like other conditions, the uvea is a particular layer of the eye. When it becomes inflamed, cats are diagnosed with this condition. However, this condition is really more of a symptom than anything. There is always an underlying cause, such as infections, autoimmune diseases, or trauma.

The symptoms are similar to those of other eye conditions, like redness and pain. Often, you’ll only notice something is wrong with your cat’s eye. A vet appointment is required for a diagnosis.