White film on a cat's eyes: how to treat eye diseases. Film on cats' eyes. Third eyelid The cat has a transparent film on the eye

Pets often suffer from conjunctivitis. Discharge from the corners of the eyes is not their worst pathology. But when a cat’s eyeball is covered with a grayish film, it really looks scary. What is the reason for this phenomenon, and what does it mean? What actions should the animal owner take in such a situation?

About the third century

The cat's conjunctiva is a thin mucous membrane that lines the surface of the eyeball and the inside of the eyelids (upper and lower). Cats also have a third eyelid. It is a fold of the conjunctiva located at the inner corner of the eyes. It is also called the nictitating membrane. This part of the animal’s visual apparatus plays an important role in ensuring its normal functioning. When a cat's eyes are open, we cannot see the third eyelid - it is invisible. But when she tilts her head or blinks, the fold of the conjunctiva straightens. It covers almost the entire surface of the eye. The nictitating membrane functions similarly to the windshield wipers on a car's windshield. It distributes tear fluid, removes foreign particles, dust, sand from the surface of the eyes. The third eyelid, moreover, produces a third of all tear fluid.

If the owner notices that the cat's eyes are half closed with a film while awake, then this is a prolapse of the third eyelid. Pathology means that the nictitating membrane is enlarged in size and cannot perform its working functions. In this case, the cat’s visual apparatus is not sufficiently moistened, is poorly protected from negative factors, or, conversely, experiences excess moisture.

Prolapse and eversion

Prolapse is often confused with prolapse of the nictitating membrane. But this pathology is less common, mainly in representatives of brachycephalic cat breeds. A symptom of prolapse is not only the covering of the eyelid with a film, but also the presence of a pink spherical formation in the corner of the cat’s eye. Secondary purulent conjunctivitis is also possible. In this case, surgical reduction of the gland is used.

Eversion is nothing more than a crease in the cartilage of the third eyelid. Pathology is also rare. Its clinical signs are similar to prolapse. But in this case, the “leg” of the cartilage of the third eyelid is bent. Correcting the pathology consists of removing the curved part of the cartilage.

Injuries to the nictitating membrane in pets

Many cats are distinguished by their pride and peculiar disposition. On the streets they often get into fights with their brothers. As a result, not only their skin suffers, but also their eyes. Third eyelid injuries are more common than eversion and prolapse. The consequence of trauma can be rupture of the nictitating membrane, accompanied by bleeding from the capillaries of the conjunctiva, blepharospasm, and secondary purulent conjunctivitis. When the gap is minor, it may heal on its own if the cat is young and strong. When the rupture is significant and is accompanied by mobility of the torn particle and exposure of cartilage, then this is a reason for prompt surgical treatment. Its goal is to provide the third eyelid with healthy mobility and size, eliminating eye irritation. The sooner the surgery is performed after the injury, the more viable tissue will be preserved and the functions of the nictitating membrane will be restored after it heals.

So, filmy eyes are a sign of disease or injury to the cat’s visual apparatus. This problem requires medical intervention.

Prolapse of the third eyelid in cats is not an independent disease, but rather a concomitant symptom of the underlying pathology. This is a signal to owners that there is clearly something wrong with the pet’s eyes. A visible third eyelid in a cat, its causes and treatment have been known for a long time. And this defect indicates the presence of one of the problems:

One more problem is worth discussing separately. This is a third eyelid adenoma in cats, which is a benign tumor that looks like a small bean. This problem can be caused by any of the above reasons or hormonal processes in the animal’s body.

The 3rd eyelid is not a single symptom, most often accompanied by the following signs:

• increased lacrimation;
• presence of blepharospasms;
• mucous and purulent discharge;
• volumetric formations in the corners of the eyes.

The film on a cat’s eye becomes inflamed for the following reasons:

• weakening of the ligaments that hold the animal’s eyelid in the correct position;
• eversion of the cartilaginous base.

Often, owners simply do not notice the enlarged formation in front of their cats. You need to pay attention to the state of the “mirrors of the soul” of your pet if he:

• constantly hides from any light;
• washes his face for no reason or too often;
• blinks rapidly or squints excessively.

If the film increases in one eye, then this is most likely inflammation that has developed as a result of injury. However, a dropped eyelid in both eyes can mean the cat is seriously ill. In both the first and second cases, it is necessary to show the animal to a veterinarian as quickly as possible.

Conjunctivitis Description: inflammation of the inner mucous membrane of the eye (conjunctiva). Often progresses from blepharitis. Main features: redness of the conjunctiva; mucous, serous or purulent discharge accumulating in the corners of the eyes; itching, burning, soreness; sticking of eyelids after sleep; photophobia. Treatment: symptomatic. Preliminary eye rinsing; the use of eye drops and ointments indicated for conjunctivitis; antibiotic therapy for fever.

Third eyelid prolapse “influx” of the eyelid onto the eye (sometimes up to one third of the entire visual area). Treatment: symptomatic or surgical. Elimination of the primary disease that caused protrusion of the third eyelid; eye drops or surgical excision of the pathological area.

Keratitis Description: inflammation of the cornea, provoked by injuries, bacterial infections or helminthic infestations. May be superficial, deep or ulcerative. Loss of vision or transition to a sluggish chronic form is possible. Main symptoms: photophobia; redness of the eye; corneal clouding; vessels appear; soreness. Treatment: symptomatic and elimination of the underlying disease. Washing the eyes with antimicrobial solutions, using eye drops and ointments, antibiotic therapy for purulent processes, microsurgery for deep or ulcerative keratitis.

Eosinophilic keratitis Description: The exact cause is not known, but a connection with disturbances in the immune system has been proven. Most often it does not cause discomfort to the animal. Main features: the presence of white plaques on the cornea, spreading from behind to the anterior wall; slight lacrimation; Cytology reveals a large number of eosinophils. Treatment: immunomodulatory and hormonal therapy in combination with antibiotics under the strict supervision of a physician. Often, treatment of eosinophilic keratitis can lead to a deterioration in the general condition of the animal.

Dermoid Description: a very rare disease in which the internal mucous membranes or tissues of the cornea, sclera grow with connective tissue of the skin, including the presence of hair follicles and hairs. It can be conjunctival, corneal or scleral. Main symptoms: detection of dermoid areas in the eyes (areas whose structure resembles skin with fur); lacrimation; constant irritation and friction of the sore eye. Treatment: surgical removal of pathological areas.

"Creeping" ulcer Description: an inflammatory process that penetrates into the eyeball through an ulcerated cornea. Main features: severe pain; photophobia; purulent discharge; penetrating corneal ulcers; increased body temperature; clouding of the eye. Treatment: symptomatic or surgical, when the purulent process lyses (dissolves) the eyeball from the inside and requires its removal. Antimicrobial therapy (antibiotics, eye drops and ointments), pain relief (novocaine blockade or novocaine instillation), eye microsurgery to remove damaged areas of the cornea.

Uveitis Description: damage to the choroid of the eye, sometimes involving the ciliary body, iris or the entire vascular tract in the inflammatory process. Leads to blindness. Often confused with conjunctivitis. Occurs due to injury, bacterial or fungal infections, after corneal ulcers. Main features: excessive constriction of the pupil (miosis); accumulation of pus inside the eye chamber; hemorrhage inside the eye chamber; change in iris color; swelling of the eyeball; decrease in intraocular pressure. Treatment: it is treated very poorly and there is a high risk of being late. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory therapy, antispasmodics to relieve miosis, antimicrobial drugs. If conservative treatment fails, the eyeball is removed.

Iritis (iridocyclitis) Description: inflammation of the iris and ciliary body due to injuries, inflammation passing from the cornea, complications after eye surgery, infections brought in by the bloodstream. Often accompanied by conjunctivitis. Main symptoms: constriction of the pupil; soreness; dimming of the iris; turbidity of the fluid in the anterior chamber of the eye; photophobia; serous-purulent discharge when conjunctivitis occurs. Treatment: atropine to restore pupil contractions, novocaine blockade, antibiotic therapy. Eye drops and ointments with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects have a good effect.

Glaucoma Description: increased intraocular pressure with enlargement of the eyeball. Often it is not a primary disease and accompanies other eye pathologies. Leads to irreversible loss of the animal’s vision if treatment is not started in a timely manner. It is often asymptomatic. There are open-angle and closed-angle. Main features: Typically, striking symptoms accompany angle-closure glaucoma: redness of the eyes; swelling of the eyelids; severe pain; nausea, vomiting, weakness; corneal clouding; redness (blueness) of the pupil when light is refracted. Treatment: normalization of intraocular pressure with special drugs (pilocarpine, for example), diuretics to improve the outflow of excess fluid from the body, analgesic therapy, retrobulbar administration of chlorpromazine. In rare cases, extirpation of the eyeball.

Cataract Description: clouding of the lens. It is difficult to treat and often leads to blindness. The disease is associated with a disruption of substances in the lens with increased breakdown of protein components. Causes: injuries, infections, chronic inflammatory processes in the eyes. Main features: cloudiness of the eye - it seems to be covered with a whitish, cloudy film; dilated pupil that does not respond to light. Treatment: Conservatively, you can only slow down the degenerative processes a little (with eye drops for cataracts). Surgical intervention is possible - replacing a clouded lens, but these operations currently exist only in theory, because There are few people willing to undergo such an extremely expensive procedure.

Degenerative processes in the retina (dystrophy, atrophy, detachment) Description: a complex of pathological processes leading to degeneration of the retina with disruption of its functions, even death. Often found in Siamese and Abyssinian cats. There are many reasons: trauma, inflammation, metabolic disorders (lack of taurine) and retinal nutrition, vitamin deficiencies, autoimmune diseases. Main symptoms: night blindness; sudden complete blindness; severe pupil dilation and dullness. Treatment: symptomatic, which slightly inhibits degenerative processes. A complete cure is impossible. Cat food is enriched with taurine. Concomitant diseases are treated.

Dacryocystitis Description: inflammation of the lacrimal sac with obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct due to its narrowing. It often occurs after prolonged conjunctivitis. Main features: mucous or purulent discharge; swelling in the outer upper corner of the eye orbit; soreness; swelling of the upper eyelid; enlargement of the lacrimal gland until it can be felt; abscesses (accumulation of pus in the tissues around the eyes). Treatment: symptomatic or surgical. Symptomatic treatment is used to relieve inflammation and pain (novocaine blockade); Absorbable ointments (ichthyol, Vishnevsky) are used. Surgical cleaning of the lacrimal canal or extirpation of the lacrimal gland is possible.

Prolapse (or dislocation) of the eyeball (exophthalmos) Description: The main causes are injury or genetic predisposition of certain breeds (Persians). Main symptoms: the eyeball is located outside the orbit. Treatment: surgical in a hospital. Independent attempts at adjustment are prohibited! Depending on the causes and duration of the condition, the eyeball with exophthalmos may need to be removed.

Sagging of the eyeball inward (enophthalmos) Main features: lacrimation; pupil reduction; the emergence of the third century; narrowing of the eye opening; visible location of the eyeball, as if inside the orbit; Possible loss of coordination of movement. Treatment: diagnostic and symptomatic. When epinephrine is instilled into the eyes, the time of pupil dilation is observed. If the problems lie outside the brain and spinal cord, the pupil will dilate within 15-20 minutes. Otherwise, the expansion will be noted no earlier than after 35-45 minutes. This is an aid in making a diagnosis. It is possible to eliminate the symptom of sunken eyeball after treating the underlying disease.

Panophthalmos Description: a very rare and particularly severe disease in which absolutely all parts and tissues of the eye are involved in the purulent process. Main features: copious purulent discharge; enlargement of the eyeball; redness of all internal mucous membranes of the eye; corneal clouding; decreased or loss of vision. Treatment: surgical. The eyeball is removed, the orbit is septically treated, and then sutured.

Corneal sequestration Description: often affects cat breeds with physiological exophthalmos (Persians, Sphynxes). The area of ​​the cornea dries out, becomes thinner, becomes injured and dies (necrotizes). Main symptoms: squinting; increased lacrimation; the presence of red-black or dark brown spots (sequestria) on the cornea; with significant sequester sizes – visual impairment. Treatment: microsurgical to remove spots on the cornea.

For what reasons does the disease appear?

If you notice that, in normal conditions, a cat constantly has a gray film on the eyeball, and there are profuse tears, this is a prolapse of the third eyelid.

Due to loss, the cornea of ​​the eye receives either insufficient or excessive moisture, which negatively affects the functioning of the visual organ.

If debris or dust gets into the sore eye, the pet’s condition can only worsen, and the eyelids may not close. Also, loss can be the result of chlamydia or herpes.

I advise you to immediately consult a doctor if you observe the following:

• Your pet often rubs his eyelids with his paws, as if something is bothering him;
• The cat reacts negatively to bright light;
• Unnaturally frequent blinking under normal conditions;
• Your pet squints.

A disease in which a cat's eyes are half covered with a film is not so rare. The filmy layer on the surface of a cat's eyelids (on the inside) in most cases is white. Sometimes it covers a significant part of the animal's eye. It doesn’t look pretty, and the pet’s well-being worsens.

The third eyelid (this is the name given to the film that covers a cat’s eyes) is the conjunctiva. It covers the surface of the eyelids (lower and upper), as well as the eyeball. In cats, in the inner corners of the eyes there is a fold of the conjunctiva (nictitating membrane). It ensures the full functioning of the visual organ.

It is impossible to see the fold with fully open eyes (if they are healthy). It becomes noticeable only when the animal squints its eyes or blinks. The nictitating membrane contributes to:

• proper distribution of tear fluid;
• removal of foreign elements from the surface of the visual organ (for example, dust, grains of sand);
• producing up to 1/3 of tear fluid.

If a cat’s fully open eyes suddenly become half covered with a film, this indicates the development of negative processes in the animal’s body. There are many topics on veterinary forums about the appearance of a film on a cat’s eyes. This pathology is associated with prolapse of the 3rd eyelid. It occurs due to swelling of the nictitating membrane, the functions of which are impaired. The animal's eyes do not receive the required amount of moisture, so they become more vulnerable to negative factors.

If you notice that a film has begun to appear on your pet cat's eyes, take the animal to the veterinarian as soon as possible. Timely diagnosis and proper treatment will help avoid re-infection and quickly restore the health of your furry pet. Using an ophthalmoscope, a specialist will quickly find out the cause of eye inflammation and offer a high-quality and effective course of treatment.

If a kitten's eyes are half covered with a film, this most likely indicates inflammation of the third eyelid. The treatment regimen is developed by a veterinarian on an individual basis. There are many different methods for dealing with unsightly film on a cat’s eyes. Here are the most famous of them:

• drops or ointments with an anesthetic effect (help relieve inflammation);
• washing the cat's eyes using tea leaves, olive oil, boric acid or regular warm water (the procedure will help remove dust particles from the surface of the visual organ, remove suppuration and increased tearing);
• inclusion of vitamins B12 in the animal’s diet;
• balanced diet;
• timely prevention.

If you notice that the corners of your cat's eyes are covered with a film, take preventive measures to avoid further spread of the veil on the visual organ. There are good preventative measures to prevent film from appearing on your cat’s eyes.

• Use a special solution to wash your cat’s eyes (you can use chamomile decoction). Soak a cotton swab in it well, and then gently rinse your pet’s one and other eyes. When you complete the procedure, do not forget to blot the cat's eyes with a dry cotton pad.
• Before starting preventive eye rinsing, wash your hands well with soap to prevent infection from entering the inflamed organ.
• Review your cat's diet, make it more balanced, varied and correct.

Remember that early detection of health problems will avoid questions as to why the cat's eyes are half closed with film. Do not self-medicate under any circumstances; it is better to immediately visit a veterinarian with your pet. He will prescribe adequate treatment that will not cause severe harm to your purr’s body. It will help get rid of film on the eyes and improve the cat’s health.

In this article I will talk about the problem of film appearing on a cat’s eyes and what to do about it. It covers half of the eye, thereby reducing the cat's visibility and having a terrible appearance overall. In this article I will talk about the problem, why it is half closed and how to treat it, how a gray film can appear. I will consider in detail the causes and diagnosis of the disease. I will list simple rules for preventing the onset of the disease and give advice for treating an existing disease.

You should know that the cat's third eyelid is a necessary part of the visual apparatus in whiskers, which performs a protective function: to prevent infection from entering the mucous membrane of the eye and as a kind of barrier that softens the effects of mechanical damage.

This action helps the mustache get rid of excess dust particles, and also promotes the distribution of tear fluid inside the eyelid.

If the third eyelid falls out or a film becomes visible on one or both eyes in cats, then it is necessary to determine the root of the problem and begin treatment immediately.

First of all, the film is formed due to suppuration and tearing of the eyes. You can talk about inflammation if the film is blue and the eyelids are slightly swollen. In this case, the owner of the animal must bring it to the veterinary clinic. The doctor, using an ophthalmoscope, examines the eyes, determines the cause of the disease and prescribes the necessary medications.

Types, symptoms and treatment

Conventionally, all eye diseases in cats are divided into two large groups:

• diseases and damage to the protective devices of the organ of vision;
• diseases and damage directly to the organ of vision (or eyeball).

The first category of diseases includes:

• bruises and any mechanical damage without compromising the integrity of the skin;
• wounds and mechanical injuries with skin tears and bleeding;
• blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids);
• inversion (eversion) of the eyelids (when the free edge of the eyelids turns inward or turns outward from the eyeball);
• fusion of the eyelids (congenital or acquired);
• lagophthalmos (impossibility of closing the eyelids);
• ptosis (incontinence of the upper eyelid);
• tumors and various neoplasms.

The second category of diseases includes:

• conjunctivitis;
• prolapse of the third eyelid;
• keratitis (cornea pathologies);
• eosinophilic keratitis (damage to the cornea with the formation of white plaques);
• dermoid (benign tumor of the conjunctiva);
• “creeping” ulcer (infection inside the eye due to pathogenic microflora entering through the inflamed cornea);
• uveitis (pathology of the vascular system);
• iritis or iridocyclitis (pathology of the ciliary body and iris);
• glaucoma (increased pressure inside the eye);
• cataract (cloudy lens);
• degenerative processes in the retina (dystrophy, atrophy, detachment);
• dacryocystitis (impaired patency of the lacrimal canal);
• prolapse of the eyeball (exophthalmos);
• depression of the eyeball inwards (enophthalmos);
• panophthalmos (a very rare purulent inflammation of all membranes of the organ of vision);
• corneal sequestration (necrosis (death) of corneal tissue).

Almost all eye pathologies (infectious and non-infectious) have a number of similar symptomatic manifestations:

• lacrimation,
• various types of discharge,
• soreness,
• swelling or other changes in appearance,
• photophobia, etc.

Eye diseases in cats should be treated by a specialist, because only a veterinarian can accurately diagnose and minimize the risks of vision loss in an animal.

• Inflammatory
• Non-inflammatory

Inflammatory eye diseases in cats include conjunctivitis, keratitis, keratoconjunctivitis, iritis, inflammation of the nasolacrimal duct (yes, we must not forget that eye diseases in cats also include problems with the duct, orbit and other tissues surrounding the eye), blepharitis, panophthalmitis and others .

Non-inflammatory ones include bruises (and other injuries), a foreign body in the eye, entropion of the eyelid, prolapse of the eyeball, cataracts, glaucoma and others.

The course can be subacute, acute, chronic. And the symptoms of eye disease in cats do not disappear over time, but only fade a little. But this only increases the risk that the animal’s vision will decline or other health problems will appear (especially if the cause of the cat’s eye disease is an infection).

Eye diseases in cats are primary and secondary. Primary is when the changes that have occurred in the eyes are the underlying disease. Secondary is when problems with the “mirrors of the soul” have already appeared due to a more serious health problem (for example, an infectious disease), then we can safely say that conjunctivitis is one of the symptoms.

Now let’s briefly go over the main eye diseases in cats.

Below is a classification of eye diseases in cats, symptoms characteristic of each disease, as well as an approximate treatment regimen.

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis in cats is perhaps the most common eye disease.

Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyelids is called conjunctivitis. There are many types of it:

• Catarrhal;
• Purulent;
• Ulcerative;
• Follicular.

There are many reasons for this inflammation. The most common ones are a foreign body getting into the eye (grains of sand or hair, for example), vitamin deficiency, injuries, infections. In babies (especially kittens), inflammation from the nasal cavity (a seemingly harmless runny nose) quickly spreads to the eyes. Therefore, not only rhinitis is recorded in them, but also inflammation of the nasolacrimal duct and purulent conjunctivitis.

When an animal has conjunctivitis, the mucous membrane of the eyelids turns red, swells, and tears flow. Pus may also appear (but not immediately; first, catarrhal conjunctivitis, which, depending on the cause of its appearance, gradually or extremely quickly “turns” into purulent).

The first step is to determine what caused this inflammation? If it is a foreign body, then you just need to rinse the eye and, to prevent complications, apply tetracycline eye ointment to the lower eyelid a couple of times a day (eye ointment is always 1%!). You can purchase it either at a veterinary pharmacy or at a human pharmacy. This is not a scarce medicine at all and costs a penny. It is best if you always have it in your first aid kit.

Just don’t apply it to your finger and then to your eye. This creates an even greater risk that you will get an infection (your hands are not sterile, no matter how much you wash them with laundry soap at home). And you don’t need to touch the “nose” of the tube to the lower eyelid, so as not to introduce pathogenic microorganisms into the tube of ointment.

So, the next time you apply it (even if not for tomorrow), you will introduce pathogens directly to the inflamed area. And instead of treating conjunctivitis in a cat or dog, it will become over-infected.

However, you should not self-medicate as soon as you see tears in your cat or whitish crusts in the inner corner of the eyes. Firstly, this way you can only “drown out” the symptom, while the underlying disease will rage with all its might. Secondly, you may not guess with the dosage or even the drug, which will lead to the transition of catarrhal acute inflammation of the eyelid mucosa into a chronic, but purulent or follicular one.

Clinical signs of conjunctivitis in a cat or dog will subside, but will not disappear. And this will certainly affect visual acuity. Symptoms of purulent conjunctivitis, in addition to yellow crusts in the morning after sleep or obvious yellow (or even greenish) discharge, are an increase in body temperature. This is understandable.

And the clinical sign of such a pathology will be an increase in temperature. But whether it will increase only in the affected area of ​​the body or in the entire body immediately depends on the state of your pet’s immunity. the weaker it is, the higher the temperature.

Now about follicular conjunctivitis. Everything is much more complicated here. A simple tetracycline ointment or intramuscular antibiotics is not enough. The fact is that near the third eyelid (and it is located in the inner corner, this normally pink “skin”) the lymph nodes become inflamed. they enlarge, swell, and prevent the animal from blinking. It cannot be done without surgical intervention by a veterinarian. After the operation, the doctor will prescribe ointments and injections.

Keratitis

We’ve sorted out the inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyelids, but what is the name for damage to the cornea in cats? Keratitis. It doesn't matter whether it was caused by injury or infection. It would seem, how can one examine some kind of pathology on a transparent cornea, especially if the pet blinks or does not even want to open its eyes because it hurts? But some symptoms will still help you recognize keratitis in a cat.

This is lacrimation. With keratitis, tears flow constantly and in large quantities from the affected eye. It’s as if the body is trying to “wash out” the lesion. The mustache will try to keep this eye closed, and if it is very bright in the room (or on the street), it will close its eyes completely. This is called photophobia.

Agree, it’s very difficult not to notice this. You can determine whether an infectious disease is the root cause of keratitis yourself. If pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria, viruses) are to blame, then both eyes almost always immediately suffer. With fungi it is more complicated; they do not immediately move to the second organ of vision. However, in any case, you need to seek veterinary help as soon as possible.

Without treatment, in almost 100% of cases, conjunctivitis is added to keratitis (since there are plenty of microorganisms in the air) and the pet already has another disease - keratoconjunctivitis.

That is, in addition to lacrimation and photophobia, clinical signs characteristic of inflammation of the eyelid mucosa also appear. Pus begins to come out very quickly.

If the cause of keratitis in a cat was not a wound (a scratch on the cornea can also appear from a foreign body under the eyelid, after a fight), then the transparent membrane of the eye ceases to shine, becomes cloudy, and discharge (often purulent) accumulates in the corner of the eye.

Third eyelid

The nictitating membrane in cats is a unique protective “device” provided by nature. If you are planning to treat a cat’s eye disease – prolapse of the third eyelid, then first find out about the functions of this amazing feature. With the help of the nictitating membrane, the eyes are always protected from various damage and contact with the cornea.

The membrane (inner eyelid) helps maintain the health of the mucous surface of the eyes. In addition to cats, some other mammals and birds are endowed with a similar protective organ.

Eye disease in cats - third eyelid: loss is manifested by the following signs:

• uncontrollable spasms of the orbicularis oculi muscle (twitching and closing of the eyelids);
• increased lacrimation and redness around the eye;
• purulent or mucous discharge;
• massive formation in the corners of the eyes.

This pathology is similar to adenoma. It is very important to distinguish between these eye diseases in cats, the treatment of which, if misdiagnosed, can provoke the development of a dangerous disease - keratoconjunctivitis, from which the pet cannot be completely cured.

If you find a whitish film on one eyelid of a furry cat, then most likely this change occurred due to the entry of a speck or other foreign body. A more dangerous situation is when a film is detected on both eyes of the cat, which is most likely caused by an infectious disease.

If there is an infection, a film may form in the eyes of the mustache. Some diseases (keratitis, corneal ulcer, etc.) signal themselves by the appearance of green or white discharge. If such signs are noticed in your pet, then urgently take him to the veterinary clinic.

If you have these symptoms, you should immediately contact your veterinarian.

What is a cat's third eyelid? This is when the skin that is in the inner corner covers most of the eye. Subsequently, the organ of vision becomes inflamed, festers, and a white or blue film appears.

If any speck gets into the eyes, the condition of the sick cat may worsen. A veterinarian will be needed at home if a film appears on the kittens’ eyes. If this is not done in a timely manner, the cat may simply lose its sight.

In addition to the third eyelid, there are other eye diseases in cats that can be caused by various pathogens. For example, herpes virus, chlamydia. The disease should be detected promptly and the animal treated as quickly as possible.

Types, symptoms and treatment

Bruises and mechanical injuries without breaking the integrity occurs as a result of impact with a blunt object or other mechanical damage (falling, bumping into non-sharp objects). Symptoms: bruising; hematomas (accumulation of blood clots in the tissues around the eyes); swelling with increased local temperature within the injury; changes in the size of the eyeball. Treatment: will depend on the severity of the damage and it is necessary to show the animal to a veterinarian. The eye is washed, if there is pain, 2% novocaine, antimicrobial drops or ointments are applied; cold may be needed for hematomas (only on the eyelid area, not on the eyeball). In case of complications, surgical intervention with removal of the eye is possible.

Wounds and open lesions cat fights, strong blows, falls on sharp objects, etc., which leads to rupture of skin tissue. Main features: violation of the integrity of the skin; obvious bleeding from visible injured areas, Treatment: washing the damaged area with hydrogen peroxide (without getting on the cornea), hemostatic therapy, sutures may be required, anesthesia, local antimicrobial therapy, surgical intervention for complex damage to the organ of vision (eye microsurgery or removal of the entire organ).

Blepharitis inflammation of the eyelids, provoked by injuries, bacterial or fungal infections, vitamin deficiency, disorders of the pancreas and liver, allergic reactions. Main features: redness of the eyelids; swelling; profuse lacrimation; photophobia; itching and burning; loss of hair and eyelashes around the eyelids. Treatment: symptomatic. Rinsing sore eyes with a decoction of chamomile or calendula, a solution of boric acid, manganese or furatsilin. The use of eye drops indicated for blepharitis. For purulent infection - antibiotic therapy.

Entropion of the eyelids Description: a consequence of some eye diseases (blepharitis, conjunctivitis, etc.), as well as a genetic predisposition of some cat breeds (Persians and Sphynxes). Main features: visual turning of the eyelid into the eye; irritation of the eyeball in the form of redness; blepharospasm (reflexive closing of the eyelids and closing of the eye at the slightest tactile or light influence on it due to spasm of the teres muscle); ulcers on the cornea in places of constant contact with the eyelid; lacrimation. Treatment: surgical.

Eversion of the eyelids Description: a consequence of primary eye diseases in a chronic course and a feature of some cat breeds. It occurs very rarely - less often than bloat. Main features: spastic closure of the eye (blepharospasm); lacrimation; visible area of ​​the eyelid mucosa at the site of eversion; inflammation of the conjunctiva. Treatment: surgical.

Fusion of eyelids Description: May be congenital or acquired. Physiological fusion is observed after birth. Acquired fusion is observed after injuries, prolonged blepharitis, chemical or thermal burns. Main features: inability to separate eyelids; the presence of a continuous strip of skin between the eyelids; the presence of a scar between fused eyelids. Treatment: surgical – eyelid separation, postoperative care.

Lagophthalmos Description: inability to completely cover the eye, which occurs with paralysis of the facial nerve, eversion and inversion of the eyelids, genetic shortness of the eyelids (“half-closed” eye). Main features: constantly slightly open palpebral fissure; lacrimation; lag of the lower eyelid from the eyeball. Treatment: surgical with preliminary use of antimicrobial eye drops and corneal protectors.

Ptosis Description: Involuntary drooping of the upper eyelid due to facial paralysis or orbicularis muscle atrophy. It can also be a consequence of inflammatory eye diseases. Main features: narrowness of the palpebral fissure; inability to raise the eyelid to normal level. Treatment: surgical.

Tumors and various neoplasms Description: the development of tumors in the eye area can be triggered by any disease in this area, as well as a genetic predisposition to cancer. Main features: visible neoplasms upon examination; lacrimation; painlessness. Treatment: surgical.

Third eyelid

In a situation where the third eyelid is visible only in one eye, it is recommended to check the cat for the presence of pathologies such as:

• getting a foreign object under the nictitating membrane;
• traumatic injuries to the white membrane, cornea, cartilage or facial nerve;
• symblepharon;
• bacterial inflammation of the membrane.

It should be taken into account that membrane prolapse can occur in both eyes. The reasons for such a violation may be:

• bilateral conjunctivitis;
• fusion of part of the third eyelid with the eyeball;
• helminthiasis

Remember that a treatment regimen for cats’ eyes can only be selected and prescribed by a specialist with a veterinary education. Under no circumstances should you prescribe medications yourself, much less use eye drops and ointments intended for people. The only thing you can do at home is to wash your eyes with warm boiled water or chamomile decoction.

Sometimes a fallen membrane will repair itself within a few hours. If this does not happen, you will have to resort to surgery.

Blepharitis

Blepharitis in cats is simply called inflammation of the eyelid. Blepharitis is also classified into “simple”, ulcerative, scaly, and meibomian. If you don’t notice in time that the eyelid is red, swollen, and prevents the cat from opening its eyes, then you may not have time to start treatment in time.

Without a competent treatment regimen, “simple” blepharitis can easily and quickly turn into ulcerative blepharitis. First, a purulent plaque forms along the line of growth of the cilia, and under the plaque (more precisely, when it begins to fall off), ulcers begin to appear. It’s much more difficult to fight him.

The pet tries to scratch the eye, which can lead to injury, since clawed paws can easily injure the cornea or the same inflamed eyelid. As the purulent plaque and sores spread, blepharitis in a cat leads to loss of eyelashes. There is a high risk that the disease will “spread” to the conjunctiva, to the eye itself, which will lead to the development of a completely different disease - panophthalmitis. And here you will have to act very quickly if you do not want your pet to be left without an eye.

Panophthalmitis

It is registered extremely rarely, but similar cases are still observed. A very serious disease, since it is characterized by damage to all tissues of the eye. The symptoms of panophthalmitis are the same in cats and dogs. First, the affected eyeball noticeably increases in size, and purulent discharge appears (panophthalmitis always occurs due to infection, hence the pus).

Unfortunately, the animal will not be able to save its eye. To prevent the infection from spreading to the brain, the diseased organ of vision is completely removed and the eyelids are sutured. To prevent this from happening, do not give up on your pet’s excessive tearing (even if this is a predisposition of the breed), and do not spit on the crusts of pus in the corners of the eyes or on the fur under them.

As soon as something alerts you, or you notice a symptom, immediately contact your veterinarian-ophthalmologist. There is no need to rinse with decoctions, drip antibiotics, or smear everything. This will only “muffle” the clinical signs, making it difficult to make a final diagnosis. And this will affect the development of a treatment regimen. Without it, your pet's recovery is impossible.

Cataract

Cataracts cause the lens of a cat to become cloudy. It is more often registered in older pets, however, it can also develop in young kittens if the cause is an infection. The main symptom you may notice is blurred vision. The animal bumps into objects, walks carefully, slowly, and is poorly oriented in space, especially in new terrain.

Having established the cause of the disease, the veterinarian-ophthalmologist will prescribe medication. Only if it does not help will surgery be prescribed. Self-medication is extremely dangerous. First, the animal may lose vision in that eye completely. Secondly, if the cause was an infection, then panophthalmitis, which was described above, may develop.

Inflammation of the nasolacrimal ducts

Another common eye disease in cats and kittens. It occurs due to the fact that the tubules that “connect the eye and nose” (to explain as simply as possible) become clogged. Many people had no idea about the presence of such tubules. But if you remember a crying person, you probably noticed that it was flowing not only from the eyes, but also from the nose.

The symptom is excessive lacrimation. It can be mistaken for a sign of keratitis or conjunctivitis because of this, but no ointment will help. The only way to help an animal is by probing. Yes, it is very painful, but after the procedure the cat immediately feels better. Literally without leaving the veterinarian's office, your pet will feel relief.

More antibiotics will be prescribed to prevent the development of infection. But usually after a week they are canceled, and the cat is re-examined. And if everything is fine, then the mustache is considered recovered.

Wounds of the eyelids

They can be superficial (when there is only a scratch), deep (when several layers of skin are damaged) and through (the eyelid is completely damaged). Cats injure their eyelids much more often than dogs, especially fighters.

If the wound is superficial, then it will need to be washed and treated with an antiseptic (at least with iodine, but only if the wound is outside the eyelid!). if it is deep or through, then only to the veterinarian. It will be necessary to thoroughly treat it, remove all foreign particles from the wound cavity, and also apply sutures. If the wound is through, then you need to make sure that the cornea is not injured.

Turn of the century

Most often, the lower eyelid is rolled up. At the same time, its edge bends inward (towards the cornea), this is not just uncomfortable. This is very painful. Don't forget about the hard cilia that rub against the conjunctiva and cornea. As a result, chronic keratoconjunctivitis can easily develop due to volvulus (volvulus is less common in cats).

Glaucoma

There are three types of glaucoma in cats: congenital, open-angle and closed-angle. With this disease, the animal's intraocular pressure increases. A symptom of glaucoma that the owner may notice is a greatly dilated pupil. The vessels cannot withstand the pressure, so they burst. And areas of hemorrhage are visible both on the conjunctiva and on the eye itself. The apple increases in size and becomes very hard (the pressure inside goes off scale).

Diagnosis of why a cat's eye is half closed

The examination of the animal is carried out in a certain order, which allows you not to miss details or nuances when differentiating the diagnosis:

• assessment of vision of the damaged organ (preserved or not);
• assessment of general appearance and comparison of symmetrical features (size and shape of pupils, size of the palpebral fissure, size and changes in the eyelids, size of the eyeballs);
• assessment of the condition of the eyeball (size, shape, presence of injuries, location in the pupil).

I will talk about different types of third eyelid prolapse:

• Protrusion. When the film covers more than half of a cat's eyelid, the color of the film is white or grayish. Most often, protrusion is just a symptom of deeper diseases of the nervous system.
• Prolapse of the nictitating membrane. It is diagnosed if the film covers no more than half of the organ. It is a pink spherical formation in the inner corner. It occurs quite rarely only in cat breeds with a flattened muzzle. May be accompanied by purulent conjunctivitis. If pus is present, emergency surgery is required.
• Eversion. A rare pathology is a crease in the cartilage of the third eyelid. Very similar to prolapse, but with curvature of the cartilage in the inner corner of the eye.
• Third century injury. Occurs when damaged by claws during fights or mating games of cats. The damage is accompanied by blood and purulent conjunctivitis. If the gap is small, you don’t have to worry, because the wound will heal on its own if the pet is in good health. I advise you to contact a veterinarian if the affected third eyelid can separate and hang on your pet’s eye. No need to hesitate! After all, the sooner you and your veterinarian solve the problem, the greater the chance of restoring the full functioning and mobility of the third eyelid.
• Horner's syndrome. This is a serious neurological disorder with a white film on the eye, drooping of the eyelid and constriction of the pupil. Cats with this syndrome are diagnosed with dysfunction of the brain, neck, and nerve plexuses. If you find such symptoms in your pet, consult a neurologist.

A cat's dehydration, exhaustion, prolonged vomiting, diarrhea and general depression can cause third eyelid prolapse in both eyes.

In this case, there is no need to see a doctor - your pet’s eyes will eventually regain their previous appearance.

If, apart from the white film, you do not observe other symptoms, this may be Haw’s syndrome.

Third eyelid injury

How to treat a pet

The third eyelid in cats and the treatment of this disease are closely interrelated. Therapy directly depends on the cause of the pathology. However, whatever the prerequisite, you can treat a cat only after contacting a good veterinarian. Self-medication is unacceptable, since this can not only lead to complications, but also completely deprive the animal of vision.

Treatment of the third eyelid in cats can be performed surgically, but sometimes conservative therapy is also acceptable. Only a professional veterinarian evaluates all the symptoms of the pathology and chooses the most effective and least risky treatment path.

To begin with, the doctor selects special preparations in the form of ointments that are applied to the eyelid, which allows you to quickly get rid of unpleasant symptoms. Also, the cat's eyes are washed with special antibacterial solutions to disinfect the affected area.

You cannot treat your pet halfway, as the health problem will return again. Therapy should continue until not only the visible lesion, but also the invisible symptoms disappear. Even with a noticeable improvement, you cannot stop treatment, you need to complete it.

Glaucoma

High intraocular pressure in a cat affects not only visual acuity, but also overall well-being. This is very painful, and you cannot do it without the help of a veterinarian (ideally an ophthalmologist). The veterinarian will determine the cause. In some cases, drugs that dilate the pupil help. But if the cause of glaucoma in a cat or dog is associated with lens luxation, then surgical intervention is necessary.

This is only a small part of eye diseases in cats. There are so many types of injuries, burns, inflammatory processes. It’s impossible to talk about everything at once in one article.

Still have questions? You can ask them to our site's in-house veterinarian in the comment box below, who will respond to them as soon as possible.

If the disease is diagnosed in time, the problem can be easily eliminated. To do this, doctors resort to anesthetic drops, special ointments and, in severe cases, surgery.

This procedure will help protect against infections in the future and remove foreign particles from the eyelids.

General symptoms

• Sowing smears onto nutrient media. This way you can accurately identify the specific causative agent of the disease and prescribe the only appropriate treatment.

Therapeutic techniques

• Antibiotic ointments (tetracycline).
• Antifungal drugs for the treatment of mycoses.
• Ointments or drops with antiviral effect.
• Regular eye rinsing if the abundant exudate constantly sticks the eyelids together.

Now that we've covered the basics, it makes sense to describe in more detail some of the eye diseases in cats (the most common ones).

General symptoms

• a thorn in cats
• blepharitis in cats
• third eyelid prolapse in cats
• glaucoma in cats
• cataracts in cats
• corneal sequestration
• Corneal ulcer in a cat.

Eye diseases in cats with a detailed description of signs and treatment methods #8212; later in the article.

1. Eyesore in cats: treatment and symptoms

The sign of the disease is obvious, and diagnosing the disease is easy. A white or cloudy spot appears in the central part or along the edge, or throughout the entire eye.

Eye treatment is carried out using several methods: anesthetic drops, special ointments and others. The easiest way for treatment and for preventive purposes is to rinse the animal’s eyes, which will remove various contaminants and prevent more serious diseases. If your cat's eyes are watery, there is film and pus, then rinsing should be done regularly. To cleanse the eyes use:

• Olive oil.
• Warm water.
• Boric acid.

It is more convenient and safer to wipe the animal’s eyes with an assistant. Watery eyes are not the worst manifestation of the disease. If a film and pus have already formed in the cat’s eyes, then it needs to be treated immediately. In this case, Lacrimin drops are used, which can alleviate the animal’s condition.

For more serious diseases, such as keratitis, other medications must be used, as the cat may go blind. The animal very often resists, so it is better to entrust the treatment to a veterinarian who will give the cat an injection and carry out all the necessary procedures.

First, you can try rinsing your cat's eyes. To do this, under no circumstances should you use old methods with tea leaves or decoctions of unknown herbs, because you can introduce an infection into the eye and severe inflammation will begin. The veterinary pharmacy sells special eye washes, for example, BEAPHAR Oftal. It will perfectly help wash foreign particles out of the eye and remove irritation.

Some time after washing, you need to drop special drops into your eyes: Floxal, Levomycetin or Actipol. Some veterinarians recommend instilling several drugs at the same time and conducting a course of at least two weeks. These drops will help perfectly if the cause of the third eye is conjunctivitis or infection.

Instead of drops, you can use eye ointments. In this case, in addition to the dosage, you need to choose a method of applying the product to the surface of the eye. The cat twitches and escapes, so squeezing the ointment directly from the tube into the eye is strictly not recommended, as this leads to injury. The ointment is carefully placed under the lower eyelid using the index finger, after which the eye must be massaged for some time. If the owner has long nails, you need to cut them off or entrust the procedure to someone else.

The cat is secured during the procedures using a rug or blanket. This reduces the chance that your cat will scratch or bite. It is best to enlist the help of one or two more people who are already well acquainted with the habits of the animal.

It is worth paying attention to the fact that after the medications, the discomfort in the eyes will intensify and the cat will strive to get rid of the itching and burning, so it will begin to rub its eyes with its paws, thereby risking introducing even more dirt and germs into the eyes. This is why you should always have a special collar at home that fits around the animal’s neck and will prevent it from scratching its eyes.

Prevention

If the film has already appeared, I advise you to adhere to the following rules when caring for your pet at home:

• Good balanced diet;
• If you discovered the film on the first day, I advise you to use Lacrimin or Tricilin powder;
• Add vitamins to food;
• Dissolve a furatsilin tablet in 100 grams of water and rinse the sore eye;
• Make lotions with a solution of manganese;
• Instill antibiotics, for example cyprobid or colbiocin;
• Apply Zovirax ointment to the film.

After all of the above, I want to summarize - periodic prevention, timely diagnosis and treatment of the disease will help your pet stay healthy and maintain vision. Be careful about those you have tamed!

Cat's eyes are also susceptible to all sorts of diseases. If you notice that suppuration has formed in the furry cat, tearing appears and a white film is visible in the cat’s eyes, then you should start treating your pet. Do not exclude the help of a veterinarian who will help you choose the right medications to rid your cat of the disease and understand the reasons for its occurrence.

To protect the tailed creature and minimize the occurrence of problems with the visual apparatus, you should do the following:

• plan a cat’s diet - it must be balanced and consist of quality products;
• do not forget about additional vitamins in the cat’s menu;
• periodically rinse your cat's eyes with Furacilin (1 tablet per 100 g of water);
• use potassium permanganate for preventive purposes;
• regularly examine the eyes of the mustachioed creature and monitor changes in its behavior;
• do not forget to free your pet from roommates - worms, fleas, etc.
• Take your pet to the veterinary clinic for examinations at least once a year.

If you notice slight redness of the mucous membrane and tearing, use Tricilin powder on the affected areas.

Meanwhile, the film does not form immediately and at first one can observe swelling, lacrimation, increased souring, closely bordering on suppuration, or suppuration itself, therefore, at the slightest symptoms of this kind, the alarm should be sounded.

If a white film does form on the cat’s eyes, then it is extremely important to determine the cause of its appearance as quickly as possible in order to carry out adequate therapy. And although we are clearly talking about inflammation, as a result of which in almost all cases a film is formed in the cat’s eyes, more often called the nictitating membrane, which can cover both the entire eyeball and a small part of it, it is still necessary to find its main source . And first of all, such a complication can arise as a result of a mechanical injury to a pet, or rather to its eye. Moreover, it is not at all necessary that serious injury be implied, because even a large speck that irritates the mucous membrane for a long time can provoke its acute inflammation and, as a result, the formation of the third eyelid. In addition, we should not forget about such factors as various kinds of infectious and viral diseases, which even more often contribute to the development of complications of this kind.

These can safely include such common diseases among cats as chlamydia, as well as the herpes virus, and, in this case, the removal of the formed film on the eyes is possible only after the elimination of the outbreak itself, otherwise all efforts made will only have a temporary effect. Ignoring the problem, regardless of the source of its formation, as well as self-medication, can lead to even worse complications, including complete loss of vision for the pet. That is why all doctors strongly recommend constantly examining your pet’s eyes and, at the slightest suspicion of a third eyelid formation, immediately going to the hospital. In addition, it would be a good idea to familiarize yourself with all the suspicious symptoms that may indicate incipient or ongoing inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eyeballs in a pet.

You shouldn’t wait for a film to form on your cat’s eye, because there are other negative symptoms that you should definitely pay attention to, including itching, lacrimation, swelling, an acute reaction to bright light sources, as well as frequent blinking and squinting.

If this situation develops, it is recommended to conduct an external examination of the eyes of the furry purr to identify redness or accumulation of pus. If a film appears on your cat's eyes, you should immediately take the animal to the veterinarian in order to rule out such a serious disease as cataracts. Usually, a third eyelid that has a blue tint is not a sign of cataracts and the cause of its formation should be looked for elsewhere. Thus, a fold that only partially covers a pet's eyeball may indicate that it has had the flu. Moreover, in such a situation there is no serious cause for concern, since this complication goes away on its own immediately after defeating the cold. Similar symptoms can be observed if the cat has suddenly lost weight, since under such circumstances the eyes can become sunken, forming a characteristic fold.

Among other things, it is strongly recommended to pay your own attention to whether both eyes are covered with film. If this is indeed the case, then there is a viral infection or some other illness that can cause such side effects. If only one eye is blocked, then it is more likely to say that its mucous membrane is irritated by some foreign object, and the size of the neoplasm in this case does not matter at all. As for effective therapy, the best way to remove the “thorn” from the eye is an integrated approach to the problem, when the underlying disease, if any, is eliminated, and the eye itself is treated with special drops, “freezing” rinses with the effect of local anesthesia, as well as all kinds of ointments. It would not be out of place in this matter to carry out unscheduled fortification of your pet, which will help improve its immunity. In addition, we should not forget about the prevention of various types of eye diseases, the timely implementation of which will help to avoid many problems.

This procedure, as a rule, consists of regularly washing the eyes of your furry pet with a self-prepared solution, which includes components such as olive oil, boric acid and warm boiled water.

In addition, it should be remembered that increased lacrimation of the eyes is not always a sign of pathological processes and very often does not need correction, therefore, assistance should be provided to the animal only when, along with tears, suppuration and redness of the mucous membrane of the eyeballs is observed.

Content:

The nictitating membrane of the eye (oculus) of a cat is called the third eyelid (tertio palpebrae). It is necessary to protect the eye sphere from damage by debris or dust, as well as to remove excess tear fluid. In a healthy cat, the third eyelid is almost invisible. With inflammation (inflammatio) of the eye, mainly conjunctivitis, or penetration of a foreign object, suppuration develops and the membrane becomes whitish or bluish. It hypertrophies and closes half of the eye.

Causes

Third eyelid syndrome manifests itself under the influence of the following factors:

• Infection.
• Invasion.
• Hypersensitivity.
• Permanent pathologies.
• Congenital anomaly.

Eye damage occurs mainly due to the pugnacity of cats.

Infection

The action of the main contagion is combined with the influence of secondary microflora:

• Rhinotracheitis.
• Calcivirosis.
• Panleukopenia.
• Chlamydia.

Invasion

Inflammation of the organ of vision is caused by the following pathogens:

• Protozoa.
• Helminthiases.

Hypersensitivity

Conjunctivitis, accompanied by the manifestation of the third eyelid, develops under the influence of the following irritants:

• Perfumery.
• Plant pollen.
• Accessories.

Permanent pathologies

Hepatitis, pancreatitis, diabetes mellitus, and other chronic diseases suppress the immune system, making the cat defenseless against secondary microflora, which causes conjunctivitis.

Congenital anomalies

Some cat breeds are predisposed to developing inflammatory eye diseases.

Types of inflammation

The third eyelid becomes noticeable in the case of the following types of inflammation:

• Malformations of cartilage.
• Protrusion of the nictitating membrane.

This is a bean-shaped, benign, pink tumor located near the bridge of the nose. Occurs due to injury or infection. The eye stops closing, which leads to new damage.

Cartilage malformations

They are congenital anomalies. During the growth phase, the defective cartilage becomes deformed and the flickering film becomes inflamed.

Protrusion of the nictitating membrane

When the third eyelid appears on one eye, the causes of the pathology are as follows:

• Foreign objects under the film.
• Injuries to the facial nerves, cornea or cartilage.
• The growth of the membrane to the eyeball.

If the third eyelid appears bilaterally, the following reasons for its occurrence are suggested:

• Infectious conjunctivitis.
• Helminthiases.

Diagnostics

The cause of the underlying pathology is determined. Pay attention to the symmetry of the eye lesion. If clinical symptoms are observed on one side, then the cause of the disease is a congenital anatomical anomaly that requires surgical correction. Or is it the irritating effect of a foreign object caught under the film.

It is necessary to monitor the dynamics of the disease. A conscientious fellinologist records everything that happens to the cat in writing. Your veterinarian may need this information when taking your medical history. For example, with chlamydia, sometimes one eye is damaged, then the other.

Symmetrical damage to the organs of vision indicates the presence of an underlying disease - infectious, invasive or non-contagious etiology. In such situations, the doctor prescribes additional tests. To identify the pathogen, samples of eye washes are taken.

Treatment and prevention

Before making an accurate diagnosis, symptomatic therapy is carried out. It is to relieve inflammation. If diagnostic procedures do not reveal the presence of an underlying disease, then they begin to remove the foreign object or promptly correct the defect.

Treatment of the main pathology is combined with therapeutic procedures aimed at relieving eye swelling and eliminating inflammatory symptoms. The cat owner will have to take on some of the treatment procedures themselves. They consist of rinsing the eyes with medications prescribed by a veterinarian. It is required to strictly follow the doctor's orders regarding the frequency and duration of treatment.

To eliminate the main disease, antimicrobial antihistamines, antiphlogistic steroids or NSAIDs, immunostimulants, and analgesics are used. The owner can become infected with conjunctivitis from the pet, so it is recommended to thoroughly wash their hands after treatment procedures.

Preventive measures include maintaining good hygiene, periodically washing the eyes, regular deworming and timely vaccination of the pet.

In this article I will talk about the problem of film appearing on a cat’s eyes and what to do about it. It covers half of the eye, thereby reducing the cat's visibility and having a terrible appearance overall. In this article I will talk about the problem, why it is half closed and how to treat it, how a gray film can appear. I will consider in detail the causes and diagnosis of the disease. I will list simple rules for preventing the onset of the disease and give advice for treating an existing disease.

If you notice that, in normal conditions, a cat constantly has a gray film on the eyeball, and there are profuse tears, this is a prolapse of the third eyelid.

Due to loss, the cornea of ​​the eye receives either insufficient or excessive moisture, which negatively affects the functioning of the visual organ.

If debris or dust gets into the sore eye, the pet’s condition can only worsen, and the eyelids may not close. Also, loss can be the result of chlamydia or herpes.

I advise you to immediately consult a doctor if you observe the following:

• Your pet often rubs his eyelids with his paws, as if something is bothering him;
• The cat reacts negatively to bright light;
• Unnaturally frequent blinking under normal conditions;
• Your pet squints.

Diagnosis of why a cat's eye is half closed

If the above signs occur, you should immediately sound the alarm and do not delay a visit to the veterinarian.

The disease can pose a real threat to the health of your pet, making it blind.

I will talk about different types of third eyelid prolapse:

• Protrusion. When the film covers more than half of a cat's eyelid, the color of the film is white or grayish. Most often, protrusion is just a symptom of deeper diseases of the nervous system.
• Prolapse of the nictitating membrane. It is diagnosed if the film covers no more than half of the organ. It is a pink spherical formation in the inner corner. It occurs quite rarely only in cat breeds with a flattened muzzle. May be accompanied by purulent conjunctivitis. If pus is present, emergency surgery is required.
• Eversion. A rare pathology is a crease in the cartilage of the third eyelid. Very similar to prolapse, but with curvature of the cartilage in the inner corner of the eye.
• Third century injury. Occurs when damaged by claws during fights or mating games of cats. The damage is accompanied by blood and purulent conjunctivitis. If the gap is small, you don’t have to worry, because the wound will heal on its own if the pet is in good health. I advise you to contact a veterinarian if the affected third eyelid can separate and hang on your pet’s eye. No need to hesitate! After all, the sooner you and your veterinarian solve the problem, the greater the chance of restoring the full functioning and mobility of the third eyelid.
• Horner's syndrome. This is a serious neurological disorder with a white film on the eye, drooping of the eyelid and constriction of the pupil. Cats with this syndrome are diagnosed with dysfunction of the brain, neck, and nerve plexuses. If you find such symptoms in your pet, consult a neurologist.

A cat's dehydration, exhaustion, prolonged vomiting, diarrhea and general depression can cause third eyelid prolapse in both eyes.

If, apart from the white film, you do not observe other symptoms, this may be Haw’s syndrome.

In this case, there is no need to see a doctor - your pet’s eyes will eventually regain their previous appearance.

How to treat and what to do

If the disease is diagnosed in time, the problem can be easily eliminated. To do this, doctors resort to anesthetic drops, special ointments and, in severe cases, surgery.

This procedure will help protect against infections in the future and remove foreign particles from the eyelids.

Prevention

If the film has already appeared, I advise you to adhere to the following rules when caring for your pet at home:

• Good balanced diet;
• If you discovered the film on the first day, I advise you to use Lacrimin or Tricilin powder;
• Add to food;
• Dissolve a furatsilin tablet in 100 grams of water and rinse the sore eye;
• Make lotions with a solution of manganese;
• Instill antibiotics, for example cyprobid or colbiocin;
• Apply Zovirax ointment to the film.

To protect your pet, it is necessary to constantly carry out various preventive measures.

After all of the above, I want to summarize - periodic prevention, timely diagnosis and treatment of the disease will help your pet stay healthy and maintain vision. Be careful about those you have tamed!