Cat Ocular Problems
Though his basic structure is similar to the human eye, however the cat has some important differences. The cats do not need more than the sixth part of light than the persons to be able to perceive the forms and the movement. They have an additional curvature in the front part of their big eyes that gathers the maximum quantity of light and a special covering in the posterior part (called tapetum lucidum) that works as a mirror and reflects the whole light not absorbed towards the retina, the sensitive membrane to the light that receives the image. The eye of the cats has also a more elastic crystalline than ours. This allows them to change the scope of his vision with more rapidity than ours, although his sight to short distance is worse than man.
Other characteristic of the eye is the membrane nictitante of the cat, the "third eyelid "in the internal angle of every eye that acts as a protective screen in case of hurts in the surface. If you can see the third eyelid it can indicate that the cat has a wound in the eye, which suffers from dehydration, infection or edginess or he is sedative. Any change that we see in the eyes of our cat, have to see the veterinarian as soon as possible. It is necessary to look for signs as reddening, an average closed eye, changes in the pupil or a watery strong and colorless secretion.
External problems of the eye
When a cat fights, he treats literally of "extracting the eyes "to another cat and this is the most current class of wound. A semiclosed eye, from which go out liquid, is an urgency and the veterinarian has to treat it immediately; if the wound is sufficiently serious, he can lose the eye. The most normal thing are the scratches around the eye or in the cornea (the surface of the eye), which causes watery secretion, squint or reddening. It is necessary to treat always a fighting wound, to avoid a sore of the cornea or that an infection of the wound spreads toward the interior of the eye.
The conjunctivitis is a disease in which the conjunctive is inflamed (the pink and beefy membrane that surrounds the eyeball), or it swells and reddens as consequence of an allergy, irritation, virus of the flu or another infectious agent. It can affect an eye or two and is being accompanied by a watery transparent or a yellow - greenish color. The most probable thing is that the veterinarian prescribes antibiotics and a collyrium to treat the disease. You never add to a cat a specific collyrium for persons.
The cats of long hair, especially those who have the squashed face and the prominent typical eyes of the Persian and his crossings, are inclined to have obstructions of the lachrymal conduit. The disease is not painful itself (until it is caused by an infection) but you have to wash the eyes to the animal from time to time to prevent him from getting entangled the hair of around. The veterinarian can "uncover" the obstructed conduits. Normally, it's needed anesthesia to do it.
