Good info about your cat's eyes! Entire article here.
"Your cat’s eyes, usually clear and bright, are looking a little gooey. She might be pawing at them, or rubbing her face against the sofa or on the rug. Clearly, something’s wrong.
Anything from a simple cold to a serious illness could be causing your cat’s eye discharge. Learn a few of the more common causes of eye discharge, when to see a vet, and what you can do at home to help your feline friend.
Eye Discharge Causes
A healthy cat’s eyes should be bright and clear.
Eye problems can bring out another cat entirely, one who paws at his eyes, squints, or blinks excessively. Because eye problems can lead to devastating consequences -- including surgery or blindness -- always talk to your vet when you notice your cat has irritated eyes. A few common reasons for cat eye discharge include:
Feline upper respiratory infections...
Conjunctivitis (pink eye) ...
Corneal disorders. A cat’s cornea, the dome-shaped surface that covers the front of the eye, can become inflamed, injured, or ulcerated...
Watery, tearing eyes (epiphora) .
Blocked tear ducts, ...
Uveitis. An inflammation of the internal structures of the eye, trauma, cancer, immune problems or infections can cause the serious, often painful inflammation of uveitis.
Dry eye (keratoconjunctivitis sicca). A chronic lack of tear production, ...
Other eye discharge causes include feline infectious peritonitis, allergies, something lodged in the eye, or third eyelid problems.
Eye Discharge Treatments
Because so many conditions can lead to eye discharge in cats, you really need to talk to your veterinarian before trying any eye discharge treatments on your cat.
Depending on what your veterinarian finds, treatment for cat eye discharge might include:
Feline upper respiratory infection ...
Conjunctivitis ...
Corneal disorders. Treatment depends on what’s troubling your cat’s cornea...
Watery, tearing eyes ...
Uveitis. The right treatment depends on what’s causing your cat’s uveitis, ...
Feline calicivirus. Secondary bacterial infections, which can cause pneumonia and other serious issues, ...
Dry eye. Many things can cause dry eye, from immune-mediated disease to distemper...
When to See a Vet
Your cat’s eyes are as delicate as they are beautiful. Small problems can quickly turn into serious conditions. If your cat’s eye discharge symptoms don’t clear up within 24 hours or if your cat is squinting, talk to your veterinarian right away.
If you have medications left over from a previous eye problem, don’t use them on your cat’s eyes. Different eye issues call for different medications, and you can end up causing serious injury by using the wrong one.
Home Care: Tips for Keeping Your Cat’s Eyes Healthy
You can help avoid eye problems in your cat by keeping up with yearly vaccinations, avoiding kitty overcrowding, and checking your cat’s eyes frequently for redness, cloudiness, a change in color or shape, discharge, or sensitivity to light.
To safely remove your cat’s eye discharge and make her more comfortable while waiting for her vet appointment, arm yourself with a bag of cotton balls and these simple tips from the ASPCA:
Dip a cotton ball in water. Wipe away the eye discharge, always from the corner of the eye outward. Use a fresh cotton ball for each eye.Steer clear of any over-the-counter drops or washes unless your vet has prescribed them.
Because correct treatment can be so critical to the health and well-being of your cat, always talk to a veterinarian to be sure kitty is getting just the right care needed."
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