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

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. In other cases, however, the entire lens may be opaque, in which case total blindness will result in an affected eye. Cataracts, moreover, can be either unilateral or bilateral—affecting either one or both eyes. And older cats often get them as a natural consequence of the aging process. Other potential causes include traumatic injury that results in a perforated lens and exposure to certain drugs or toxic substances , radiation, or electric shock. In many cases, however, the cause of a cataract is unknown. The signs of cataract-related failing vision or total loss of vision may be behavioral. A visually impaired cat may, for example, become less agile, bump into familiar furniture, or appear to have difficulty finding its food bowl or litterbox.

This may be achieved by treating any contributing underlying diseases. Are you worried that your cat may have cataracts?

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.

Marta Vidal-Abarca. Click to Skip Ahead. If so, this may be a cataract. But what exactly are cataracts? Why do they show up? A cataract is just a term that describes an increased opacity in the lens. The good news is that cataracts in felines are much less common than in canines or even humans. However, some breeds are more prone to developing them, and older kitties are more likely to have them show up. You might be surprised to learn that the signs of cataracts can vary.

Cataracts in cats

This article was written or reviewed by an All About Vision expert contributor, a partner medical reviewer or a member of our medical advisory board. Sources used at the time of publication are provided in the Notes and References section. These may include peer-reviewed scientific research, data from government health authorities, and other trusted sources of information. Cats are known for hiding health problems from their humans. When it comes to eye health, it's easier to tell when something is wrong, specifically when dealing with cataracts in cats. Feline cataracts are usually caused by chronic eye inflammation and can be treated with medication and surgery. Cataracts in cats happen when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy or opaque. It also focuses light onto the retina at the back of the eye — an important step in the vision process. The lens is made of protein fibers. Age, inflammation and other factors can cause the fibers to clump together and create a milky film across the lens.

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Cataracts can also occur in cats undergoing radiation therapy for cancer on their face or head. The lens helps to focus vision as light that passes through the eye, allowing your cat to see. Back to Pet Health Library. For many cats, cataracts themselves are not painful and may not require any additional management aside from regular monitoring. Following this procedure, an artificial lens is inserted and the incision is sutured shut. Related Articles. United States. Surgery to remove the cataract: Another common treatment is replacing the lens of the eye through cataract surgery, performed by a veterinary ophthalmologist. Cataracts in cats are less common than they are in humans and dogs. Feline Cataracts. Yes No. Cataracts are diagnosed by an ophthalmic exam of the eyes. If your cat is diagnosed with cataracts and has lost some vision, it is important that you make sure they have easy access to all of their resources. Every cat experiences cataracts differently.

Night hunting, pouncing on speedy prey, keeping a watch to protect their territory—cats use their keen eyesight for survival in the wild and to live an active life as a pet in the home. Cats are excellent at hiding signs of disease, and it is important to watch for and address concerns quickly for the best outcome.

Watch our Video. Uveitis in Cats. In cats who are good surgical candidates, cataracts can be cured with surgical removal. If the lens is cloudy, light doesn't reach the retina uniformly, causing hazy or blurry vision. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery. Germany - Deutschland. Kennard, G. Sweden - Sverige. About our Ads. If your cat is diagnosed with cataracts and has lost some vision, it is important that you make sure they have easy access to all of their resources. Some cats are born with cataracts or have a genetic predisposition to develop them. In some cases, the affected area of the lens may be tiny, and the resulting impairment in vision will be inconsequential. Switzerland Suisse. For many cats, cataracts themselves are not painful and may not require any additional management aside from regular monitoring. Risk Factors The most common cause of cataracts in cats is chronic inflammation of the iris.