Disorder - Visual pathway, abnormal

Organ Systems Involved
Nervous/sensory

Alternative disorders described within LIDA

Eye colour; Ocular disease; Rod cone degeneration; Rod cone dysplasia; Retinal degeneration; Retinal degeneration, central; Retinal dystrophy; Vision abnormal

Alternative Names
Convergent strabismus and nystagmus; Aberrant visual projections

Presenting Signs

Binocular vision is the ability to stay focussed on an object with both eyes to create a single image. Problems with binocular vision result in difficulties judging depth and in visually measuring distance. In this condition, cats have an abnormal binocular vision, or a portion of the visual field is opposite or upside down. Wrong positioning of the eyes, a cross-eyed appearance and abnormal oscillating eye movements may be seen, and cats generally have a blurred vision. However, affected cats show some adaptation, allowing them to create a reasonably orderly view of the world. Overall, the disorder is due to a miswiring of the central visual pathways. This is related to abnormal pigment formation (which is temperature dependent in the breeds affected), resulting in abnormal visual pathway development.

Cats at Risk

Cats that show pigment in the extremities such as the tail, paws and tips of the nose and ears but that lack pigment (melanin) elsewhere in the body are affected.

Breeds Affected
Birman
Siamese


PubMed References
Visual pathway, abnormal

Contributor
Sophie Hale