Cat eye problems: An introduction to cat eye health

Updated 14/06/2024

Our beloved kitties are famous for their adorable big eyes and captivating gaze. However, behind those mesmerizing orbs lies a delicate system prone to various cat eye problems. 

Noticed something’s up with your poor cat’s eyes? The importance of cat eye health cannot be overstated, as common cat eye conditions can significantly impact the quality of life of our fabulous felines. Understanding these issues, their symptoms, causes, and treatment options is essential for every cat parent and pet sitter to ensure their four-legged friend can enjoy the best possible eye health.

Common cat eye problems and their symptoms

There are unfortunately many problems our fur babies can have with their eyes, ranging from the not-so-serious to more complicated issues, along with short-term, chronic, and inherited eye issues. Here are some common cats eye problems that can affect our poor feline friends:

Blepharitis

Blepharitis is characterized by the inflammation of your cat’s eyelids.

• Symptoms: swelling, redness, and discomfort or itching in the eye.
• Causes: many conditions can result in blepharitis like infections, allergies, or eyelid abnormalities.

Cataracts

Cataracts in cats appear as cloudiness in the eye and lead to cat vision problems.

• Symptoms: a milky or opaque appearance in the eye, difficulty navigating familiar surroundings, bumping into things, and a reluctance to jump or climb.
• Causes: factors may include genetics, aging, diabetes, inflammation, trauma (to the eyes or head), and nutritional deficiencies. It’s often (but not only) observed in older cats.

Conjunctivitis (pink eye)

Feline conjunctivitis, commonly known as “pink eye”, is an inflammation of the conjunctiva (the thin, transparent membrane covering the inner surface of the eyelids and the white part of the eye). A particular form of this cat eye disease is eosinophilic keratoconjunctivitis, characterized by infiltration of eosinophils (a type of white blood cell involved in allergic reactions).

• Symptoms: redness, swelling, eye discharge (“cat eye goop”), and squinting.
• Causes: causes range from bacterial and viral infections to cat allergies and irritants.

Corneal sequestrum

Corneal sequestrum is a condition that especially affects Persian and Himalayan breeds and involves the development of a dark, opaque, and often painful area of dead tissue on the cornea.

• Symptoms: a dark, brown, or black spot on the cornea, discomfort or pain, and often cloudiness or opacity of the affected portion of the cornea.
• Causes: the exact cause of corneal sequestrum in cats isn’t fully understood. However, it’s associated with brachycephalic facial structures, chronic eye conditions, and hereditary factors.

Corneal ulcerations

Corneal ulcers are open sores on the cornea of your cat’s eye. They’re hard to detect without specialist equipment.

• Symptoms: squinting, rapid blinking, light sensitivity, and sometimes excessive tearing.
• Causes: often caused by trauma ​​(such as scratches or abrasions to the cornea), infections, or underlying eye conditions. 

Entropion

Entropion in cats occurs when the eyelid rolls inward causing the eyelashes and skin to rub against the cornea, leading to irritation and corneal damage. This is particularly common in flat-faced breeds.

• Symptoms: excessive tearing, squinting, redness of the eye, and discomfort. 
• Causes: causes can be genetic, where certain breeds are more predisposed to the condition. Additionally, trauma, scarring, or inflammation of the eyelids can contribute to entropion.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is characterized by increased intraocular pressure (IOP) due to fluid buildup within the eye, leading to optic nerve damage and potential blindness of your cat if left untreated. It can sadly be a very painful condition.

• Symptoms: dilated pupils, cloudy cornea, redness, swollen eyes, and vision loss.
• Causes: this increased pressure can result from various factors, including genetics, underlying health conditions, trauma, and obstruction of the eye's drainage structures, and is often present in older cats.

Haw's syndrome

Haw's syndrome in cats, also known as third eyelid protrusion or “cherry eye”, occurs when the nictitating membrane (third eyelid) becomes prominent and partially covers the eye. 

• Symptoms: swollen eye, eye irritation (which can be indicated by excessive blinking, or squinting), and excessive tearing or discharge.
• Causes: this condition can indicate underlying health issues such as illness or dehydration in cats.

Horner's syndrome

Horner's syndrome is a neurological disorder that occurs due to damage or disruption to the sympathetic nervous system that controls certain muscles and functions in your cat’s eyes and face.

• Symptoms: drooping eyelids, constricted pupils, and sunken appearance of the eye on only one side of the face.
• Causes: caused by various underlying conditions, including trauma, tumors, infections, or vascular diseases.

Hordeolum (stye)

A hordeolum, also known as a stye, is a common cat eye condition characterized by a painful, red lump near the edge of your cat’s eyelid.

• Symptoms: the stye may often be paired with swelling and tenderness around the affected area, discomfort or pain when blinking, watery eyes, sensitivity to light, and crusting around the eyelid.
• Causes: it’s primarily caused by bacterial infection; bacteria can enter the eye area through various means if your cat comes in contact with anything dirty or contaminated.

Keratitis (corneal inflammation)

Keratitis in cats refers to inflammation of the cornea, the transparent outer layer of the eye. 

• Symptoms: redness, pain, excessive tearing, and a pink, white, or chalky appearance of the cornea (especially with eosinophilic keratitis).
• Causes: factors such as infections (bacterial, viral, or fungal), trauma to the cornea, foreign objects in the eye, allergies, autoimmune diseases, underlying health conditions like feline herpesvirus infection, and exposure to irritants or pollutants can all contribute to keratitis.

Progressive retinal atrophy

Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA) is a term for a group of genetic conditions causing degeneration of the retina and eventual blindness. PRA can affect cats of any age or breed of cat, but certain breeds, such as Abyssinians, Siamese, and Persians, are more predisposed to specific forms of PRA.

• Symptoms: subtle changes in a cat's vision, initially causing difficulty seeing in low light conditions (night blindness). As the condition progresses, affected cats may exhibit signs such as dilated pupils, increased clumsiness or difficulty navigating their environment, reluctance to go outside in bright light, and eventually complete blindness.
• Causes: inherited genetic mutations that disrupt the normal function of photoreceptor cells in the retina. 

Uveitis

Uveitis is the inflammation of the uvea (the middle layer of the eye). This condition can be painful and may lead to serious complications if left untreated. When there’s an inflammation of the iris and ciliary body, it’s known as feline anterior uveitis.

• Symptoms: redness, light sensitivity, squinting, and difficulty seeing.
• Causes: uveitis can be caused by infections, trauma, or systemic diseases (such as feline infectious peritonitis (FIP) which is a viral disease stemming from the feline coronavirus).

Causes of cat eye problems

Genetic predispositions

Certain cat breeds are prone to specific cats eyes problems due to genetic factors. For example, the facial structures of some breeds, such as Persian cats and brachycephalic breeds, can cause chronic eye defects in cats.

Environmental factors and allergens

Environmental factors such as dust, pollen, smoke, and chemicals can irritate cats' eyes, leading to inflammation and infections. Allergens from food or surroundings can trigger allergic reactions which can result in problems with cats eyes.

Infections and diseases

Bacterial and viral infections, such as feline herpesvirus infection, can cause a range of eye problems in cats. Diseases of the eye in cats may also be because of systemic diseases like diabetes and hypertension.

Diagnosing cats with eye problems

Symptoms to watch for

Cat parents and pet sitters should be on the lookout for signs of eye discomfort, including squinting, excessive tearing, redness, cloudiness, or changes in pupil size. If you notice any cat eye abnormalities, it's important to see a vet as soon as possible.

The veterinary examination

During a veterinary visit for eye issues or cat eye diseases, your vet will examine your precious feline which will include a visual eye inspection and an assessment of pupil reactions. They may also use specialized tools like ophthalmoscopes or special dyes for a detailed evaluation.

Advanced diagnostic tools

Advanced diagnostic tools such as ultrasound and tonometry may be used to assess intraocular pressure (the pressure inside your cat’s eyeballs), detect clinical signs of structural abnormalities, and evaluate the extent of any eye damage.

Treatment and prevention of cat eye problems

Medications and eye drops

Treatment options for cat eye problems may include topical or systemic medications, such as antibiotics, antivirals, anti-inflammatories, and lubricating eye drops, depending on the underlying cause. These medications should only be used upon the advice of a qualified veterinarian. Never use any home remedies as these can cause more harm than good to your cat’s delicate eyes.

Surgical interventions

In severe cases or when over-the-counter or prescribed treatment isn’t effective, surgical interventions such as cataract removal, corneal repair, or eyelid surgery may be needed to resolve any cat vision problems and alleviate discomfort. In some circumstances, the eye cannot be treated and may unfortunately need to be removed.

Home care and management

Pet parents can support their pet's eye health through daily hygiene practices, including gently wiping away eye discharge, keeping the eye area clean, and administering prescribed medications as directed. This is particularly important for flat-faced breeds. 

Regular veterinary check-ups

Routine vet check-ups are important for early detection of feline eye disorders or cat eyesight problems. Annual wellness visits allow your vet to monitor the overall health of your kitty and nip in the bud any emerging issues. Be sure to always attend any follow-up checks your vet advises after an eye problem, as, if left not fully resolved, complications can occur. 

Managing underlying health conditions

Keeping underlying health conditions like diabetes, hypertension, or autoimmune diseases in check is super important to steer clear of any cat eye problems down the road. 

Meet our veterinary expert, Holly

This article has been checked by veterinarian Holly Anne Hills BVM BVS BVMedSci. After graduating from the University of Nottingham, Holly spent two years working as a farm animal vet. She then spent some time traveling and volunteering in India, working at neutering clinics and with injured street dogs. Holly now works in small animal practice, and balances this with writing, volunteering with the comms team at Vet Sustain, and she is also a marine mammal medic!

As a pet sitter or pet parent who’s a member of TrustedHousesitters, you can benefit from our 24/7 Vet Advice Line if you’re ever worried about a cat's eyes. Our trusted team can put your mind at ease or give you advice on eye conditions in cats.