? Major Eye Problem

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Onyx & Klepto

Onyx & Klepto

Member Since 2013
Hi Folks -

3 Weeks ago I took Onyx to the vet with an enflamed sclera and greenish discharge. The vet used the dye to make sure she didn't have any scratches on the iris and then gave me Neomycin and Polymyxin B drops. They really seemed like they were helping, but then a few days ago, I noticed she started rubbing her eyes after the drops. Well today, I looked closer, and the swollen, broken vessels have webbed onto the iris, and her eye looks cloudy. Has anyone seen this? I'm guessing he gave me the wrong medicine, but now I'm so afraid she's going blind. I just read you're only supposed to use those drops for bacterial infections, NOT viral or fungal. So I can only imagine what kind of damage might the steroid might have done. UGH.

Or is this something that happens with out of control diabetes? She's been having all sorts CKD and IBD issues lately, so her diabetes has been out off the charts, which I've been frantically trying to get a handle on it. I'm doing research, but it's not turning up much.

Thoughts.

:(
 

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Neomycin and Polymyxin B drops is a very common eye med. Did the vet make any definite diagnosis?
The vet checked the cornea (not iris) for problems since Neomycin and Polymyxin B drops contains steroids and you do not what to apply steroids when there are problems with the cornea since it can make cornea problems worse.
That does not seem to be your problem.
I would quickly go to a vet, preferably an ophthalmologist.
 
Hi,

I'm so sorry to hear about the problems Onyx is having right now. My little one lost an eye just recently. I now know she had undiagnosed chronic uveitis (an inflammation in the eye). Saoirse ended up with a haemorrhage in the eye. Our own vets referred us as an emergency case to a specialist veterinary opthalmologist and she performed the enucleation the next day.

After what we've been through I would recommend in the strongest terms that you try to get an emergency referral for Onyx to a specialist opthalmologist as fast as you can. The specialist will be able to give a thorough exam, check intraocular pressure, and may know better treatments for Onyx than a general practice vet. (This was very much my experience; the specialist was fantastic - it was just too late for Saoirse to benefit from some of the treatments that can be given.)

For general information, diabetics can be vulnerable to glaucoma. If it's caught early there are treatment options to reduce the intraocular pressure.

I'm awfully sorry I don't have anything specific to offer you by way of help but I'm saying a prayer that you'll be able to get the right help for Onyx very quickly and that his eye will be better very, very soon.

:bighug:


Mogs
.
 
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Critter Mom said:
Hi,

I'm so sorry to hear about the problems Onyx is having right now. My little one lost an eye just recently. I now know she had undiagnosed chronic uveitis (an inflammation in the eye). Saoirse ended up with a haemorrhage in the eye. Our own vets referred us as an emergency case to a specialist veterinary opthalmologist and she performed the enucleation the next day.

After what we've been through I would recommend in the strongest terms that you try to get an emergency referral for Onyx to a specialist opthalmologist as fast as you can. The specialist will be able to give a thorough exam, check intraocular pressure, and may know better treatments for Onyx than a general practice vet. (This was very much my experience; the specialist was fantastic - it was just too late for Saoirse to benefit from some of the treatments that can be given.)

For general information, diabetics can be vulnerable to glaucoma. If it's caught early there are treatment options to reduce the intraocular pressure.

I'm awfully sorry I don't have anything specific to offer you by way of help but I'm saying a prayer that you'll be able to get the right help for Onyx very quickly and that his eye will be better very, very soon.

:bighug:


Mogs
.
Click to expand...

I'm so sorry, Mogs. I can't imagine how tough that was. HUGS! I'm actually taking her to an amazing clinic tomorrow where hopefully they'll give me a referral, If she definitely needs ones. They assured me they will if it's something serious. I'm still praying it's herpes and just needs the RIGHT drops and meds. Many times we thought she picked it up off a rescue I brought in a few years ago, but she never had anything like this before. It was always more like a cold with eye discharge for a week. This started a month ago. Hoping for answers tomorrow. :)
 
Larry and Kitties said:
Neomycin and Polymyxin B drops is a very common eye med. Did the vet make any definite diagnosis?
The vet checked the cornea (not iris) for problems since Neomycin and Polymyxin B drops contains steroids and you do not what to apply steroids when there are problems with the cornea since it can make cornea problems worse.
That does not seem to be your problem.
I would quickly go to a vet, preferably an ophthalmologist.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Larry. Even though I called it the wrong thing, the drops have DEFINITELY made it worse. The vet just said (even though I thought it was herpes), "it just looks likes it's irritated". Going to a MUCH better vet tomorrow to get some answers. The ER vet I spoke to was really concerned the swollen, red veins are now webbing across her beautiful golden eyes. I just hope it's not too late.
 
Onyx & Klepto said:
Thanks, I definitely am. I was just hoping someone has seen something like this, so I would know what to research. I drive myself NUTS when I don't know what's going on. And this totally scared the bejesus outta me. :)
Click to expand...
I hear ya!! I hate not knowing and especially when it has been "treated" errr:confused:
It looks like lots of pressure-but if it is glaucoma I would think it would be painful with the pressure.
I hope it isn't and they can restore the eye--I am sure they can relieve the pressure if that is even what it is?:bighug::bighug:
 
Onyx & Klepto said:
The vet just said ... "it just looks likes it's irritated".
Click to expand...

The first warning I got with Saoirse's eye was just after her diabetes Dx. She was squinting the eye in question. The general practice vet examined her eye and couldn't find anything obvious and she prescribed drops to soothe any irritation that might be present. The annoying thing is that one day I noticed Saoirse squinting the eye about 9 months later (about this time last year). I just thought it was the same as before: some minor irritant that her tears washed out. How wrong I was. When the histopathology came back the indications were that there had been chronic inflammation in the eye itself.

The difference in consulting the opthalmologist - and she truly merits being described as a specialist - was like night and day. Obviously she will see far more cases than a general practice vet. and therefore was able to pretty much give me chapter and verse on the status of Saoirse's eyes plus treatment options and their likelihood of success or failure on the spot. She had that quiet, unassuming confidence that true experts in their field are oft seen to possess. I will be taking Saoirse for regular check-ups with her henceforth.

I'm really glad you're getting a second opinion. Vision is so precious.



Mogs
.
 
Critter Mom said:
The first warning I got with Saoirse's eye was just after her diabetes Dx. She was squinting the eye in question. The general practice vet examined her eye and couldn't find anything obvious and she prescribed drops to soothe any irritation that might be present. The annoying thing is that one day I noticed Saoirse squinting the eye about 9 months later (about this time last year). I just thought it was the same as before: some minor irritant that her tears washed out. How wrong I was. When the histopathology came back the indications were that there had been chronic inflammation in the eye itself.

The difference in consulting the opthalmologist - and she truly merits being described as a specialist - was like night and day. Obviously she will see far more cases than a general practice vet. and therefore was able to pretty much give me chapter and verse on the status of Saoirse's eyes plus treatment options and their likelihood of success or failure on the spot. She had that quiet, unassuming confidence that true experts in their field are oft seen to possess. I will be taking Saoirse for regular check-ups with her henceforth.

I'm really glad you're getting a second opinion. Vision is so precious.



Mogs
.
Click to expand...

When your baby was squinting her eye, was it a constant thing or just every once in a while? Diego does this off and on. He's always done this but it isn't every day. Like you, I assumed it is because he had a hair in it or something.
 
Onyx & Klepto said:
Hi Folks -

3 Weeks ago I took Onyx to the vet with an enflamed sclera and greenish discharge. The vet used the dye to make sure she didn't have any scratches on the iris and then gave me Neomycin and Polymyxin B drops. They really seemed like they were helping, but then a few days ago, I noticed she started rubbing her eyes after the drops. Well today, I looked closer, and the swollen, broken vessels have webbed onto the iris, and her eye looks cloudy. Has anyone seen this? I'm guessing he gave me the wrong medicine, but now I'm so afraid she's going blind. I just read you're only supposed to use those drops for bacterial infections, NOT viral or fungal. So I can only imagine what kind of damage might the steroid might have done. UGH.

Or is this something that happens with out of control diabetes? She's been having all sorts CKD and IBD issues lately, so her diabetes has been out off the charts, which I've been frantically trying to get a handle on it. I'm doing research, but it's not turning up much.

Thoughts.

:(
Click to expand...


Definitely go to a specialist, or get your vet to talk to one. The picture of your kitty looks exactly like what one of my cats eye looked like. My vet took pictures and sent to the specialist, after talking to them they had her do a scrapping and send out to confirm what they thought. Basically it was Feline Herpes, it is not contagious so not an issue. My vet said it was like the cold sore people get, virus has always been there and for some reason, stress/illness it starts showing up. The ophthalmologist prescribed a drop that he gets 2 times a week for the rest of his life (Gentocin Ophthalmic Solution (Gentamicin Sulfate). He has been on it for a couple of months now and you can barely see the cloudiness. No more squinting or discharge. I had never hear of this before, but after googling found out it is as common as human cold sores.
 
Hi it looks like Onyx may have a corneal ulcer from what I can see on the pic. I wish I could pop over and have a proper look.

The ulcer could be viral/herpes, in the photo I think I can see a bit of a dendritic pattern to the cloudiness/ulcer across the eye, but it's hard to tell from the photo itself, and without using some fluoroscein (the yellow stuff they pop in).

If it's viral/herpes, the steroids are a no no they will make it worse, the fact you have been using them for three weeks and it has got worse also makes me suspect viral, you need to get to a specialist to get a definitive diagnosis, ASAP, the treatment will need to be tailored to the ulcer. (whatever is causing it)
A bean presenting with this in my consulting room with an ulcer would be off to the ER to see an ophthalmologist, for treatment and follow up.
Ulcers are treatable and some of the cloudiness should clear, the quicker you can start effective treatment the better.

Sending vines:bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Gill & George said:
Hi it looks like Onyx may have a corneal ulcer from what I can see on the pic.
Click to expand...
I do not think so since in her initial post she included " The vet used the dye to make sure she didn't have any scratches on the iris".
The dye with reveal corneal ulcers and other corneal defects since using a steroid containing eye meds will not allow the defects to heal and can make them worse.
 
ja9390 said:
When your baby was squinting her eye, was it a constant thing or just every once in a while? Diego does this off and on. He's always done this but it isn't every day. Like you, I assumed it is because he had a hair in it or something.
Click to expand...
It was every once in a while, JC.

.
 
@ja9390 -

The conclusion from the histopathology findings is that Saoirse most likely had undiagnosed chronic uveitis for some time before things went pear-shaped. For info, when our own vet examined Saoirse's eye a few hours after the haemorrhage started he found a small ulcer on her cornea. He said that this probably developed in response to some form of irritation she was experiencing. The tricky thing is how to distinguish whether a cat's trying to address the irritation or just washing its face. :-/


Mogs
.
 
Critter Mom said:
@ja9390 -

The conclusion from the histopathology findings is that Saoirse most likely had undiagnosed chronic uveitis for some time before things went pear-shaped. For info, when our own vet examined Saoirse's eye a few hours after the haemorrhage started he found a small ulcer on her cornea. He said that this probably developed in response to some form of irritation she was experiencing. The tricky thing is how to distinguish whether a cat's trying to address the irritation or just washing its face. :-/


Mogs
.
Click to expand...

Right. I rarely ever see him go near his eyes with his paw. He's so spoiled that if he ever does have 'sleep' in the corner of his eyes, I always clean it off before he does. He just squints, or does this half wink thing at me periodically. I always winked back, just in case he was sending me some type of code :D but it would be beyond upsetting to find out he has eye issues. The doctor checked his eyes first thing upon walking into his room today, and his heart, so everything probably looked normal to her but I will bring it up. That's scary stuff.
 
Larry and Kitties said:
I do not think so since in her initial post she included " The vet used the dye to make sure she didn't have any scratches on the iris".
The dye with reveal corneal ulcers and other corneal defects since using a steroid containing eye meds will not allow the defects to heal and can make them worse.
Click to expand...
I am just going off what I can see on the photo. If it was very small three weeks ago the vet might not have seen it, they can be very easy to miss without a biomicroscope in the early stages.

If you look closely at the centre of the cornea there is like a cloudy spot but it seems to have arms radiating out from it like you get with a dendritic ulcer typical in viral herpes (I have seen and diagnosed these in humans), it is a photo of course and what I am seeing may just be a photographic aberration. the blood vessels at the edge growing across the cornea indicate a corneal infection the vessels typically will grow towards the lesion, if it was a bacterial infection then she should be seeing an improvement, unless it needs to be treated with more specific AB, in which case they need to take a culture, or a change of AB may be required.
With a Bacterial ulcer you will typically get a more defined circular lesion, I am just not seeing this on the photo.

The green gunk that was present at the start is not consistent with a viral ulcer, but she doesn't mention that as still being a problem.

Whatever it is it is not getting better and the marked neovascularisation indicates this.

Uveitis is an inflammation of the uvea, the fluid filled void in the eye, it may develop secondary to this infection Onyx has, but not inevitably.

Is Onyx still getting a gunky discharge or is it just watery eye?

If it were my cat he would be going of to a specialist.
 
ja9390 said:
Right. I rarely ever see him go near his eyes with his paw. He's so spoiled that if he ever does have 'sleep' in the corner of his eyes, I always clean it off before he does. He just squints, or does this half wink thing at me periodically. I always winked back, just in case he was sending me some type of code :D but it would be beyond upsetting to find out he has eye issues. The doctor checked his eyes first thing upon walking into his room today, and his heart, so everything probably looked normal to her but I will bring it up. That's scary stuff.
Click to expand...
Is this a second visit? what did she say about the cloudiness and blood vessels on the cornea?
Did she use the dye again?
 
Last year I went through a huge ordeal with one of my non-diabtetic kitties. He had a really bad stromal ulcer, which could have resulted from a scratch or injury. The cause we will never know. His eye was horribly cloudy, he was squinting all of the time, it was runny. We ended up having to take him the eye specialist. He had to be on four different drops during the day. It was one of the hardest things I've ever gone through with any of my cats (excluding diabetes.) The good news is that we managed to save his eye. Apparently, it was extremely close to rupturing. :-/ Also, this is probably something very different, but when my boy's eye started healing, the doc told me that tiny red blood vessels would start appearing because the eye was healing itself. She was right. If I didn't know that's what was happening, I would have freaked out. It was definitely a learning experience. I hope that Onyx feels better soon. I will keep you in my thoughts.

Be well.
 
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