Disorder - Ocular disease

Organ Systems Involved
Nervous/sensory

Alternative disorders described within LIDA

Any disorders affecting the eye

Alternative Names
All disorders listed in presenting signs come under the umbrella 'ocular disease' in cats.

Presenting Signs

Ocular disease is any disease affecting the eye. Some clinical signs follow:

• Entropion (inward turning of the eyelid). Eyelid hairs rub on the eye causing pain and inflammation.
  
• Corneal sequestrum. This is a brown to black round sore, often in the centre of the cornea.
  
• Retinal dysplasia. Abnormal development of the retina at the back of the eyeball. If severe, can result in detachment of the retina but often shows no clinical signs.
  
• Atresia of nasolacrimal puncta or caniculi (no tear duct opening). This causes an overflow of tears.
  
• Keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Lack of tear production = dry eye. Causes chronic conjunctivitis.
  
• Persistent pupillary membranes. This is pigment strands arising from the iris. There are usually no clinical signs.
  Iridoschisis.This is a degenerative process of the iris that results in the layers of the iris splitting.
  
• Microphakia. The eye fails to reach a normal size.
  
• Persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous. This is overgrowth of part of the lens, and can be associated with cataracts.
  
• Endothelial dystrophy. This causes progressive cloudiness of the cornea.
  
• Nictitans gland enlargement. Enlarged third eyelid gland.
  
• Epiphora. Overflow of tears.
  
• Progressive retinal atrophy This is degeneration of the retina.
  
• Esotropia. Also known as ‘cross-eyed’, it causes inward deviation of the eye from its normal position.
  
• Nystagmus. This is fine flickering eye movements.

Cats at Risk

Most inherited and congenital ocular conditions present at a very young age (less than three months).

Breeds Affected
Abyssinian
Burmese
Siamese
Somali


Treatment

Surgical correction is possible for some of the ocular conditions due to abnormal development (e.g. eyelid agenesis), and some can be managed with medication (e.g. keratoconjunctivitis sicca). For others, particularly those involving the retina, there is no known treatment.

PubMed References
Ocular disease

Contributor
Nicole Rous