Have you noticed your cat's eyes have started to cloud over? This may be a sign that your cat is developing cataracts. Today, our Columbia vets will provide you with information on cataracts in cats, what to look out for, and how they are treated.
What are cataracts?
A cataract refers to an increase in the opacity of the lens of the eye.
The lens, a structure within the eye composed of protein fibers encased within a capsule, is responsible for focusing light on the retina and allowing clear vision.
When a cat starts to develop a cataract, the normally clear lens develops a cloudy or opaque appearance that interferes with the ability of light to reach the retina. Depending on how severe the cataract is, it can have significant impacts on the cat’s vision. A quick search on your favorite search engine will pull up pictures of cataracts in cats.
Cataracts can occur in cats of any age, sex, or breed. It is believed that Himalayas, Birmans, and British Shorthairs are genetically predisposed to cataracts.
It is important to note that not all hazy eyes are caused by cataracts. As cats age, the lens often develops a cloudy appearance due to an aging change known as nuclear sclerosis or lenticular sclerosis.
What causes cataracts in cats?
There are many possible causes of cataracts. Any type of damage to the lens can result in the formation of a cataract.
Causes of cataracts that have been described in cats include the following:
- Inflammation within the eye
- Genetic or hereditary factors
- Trauma to the eye
- Metabolic diseases, such as diabetes or high blood pressure
- Nutritional imbalances
- Radiation exposure
- Cancer
- Viral, bacterial, fungal, or protozoal infections
The most common cause of cataracts in cats is inflammation within the eye, which is often called uveitis. Uveitis can occur as a result of several underlying disease processes, most often that the eye is trying to fight off an infection. Unfortunately, it can lead the body’s immune system to recognize the lens as a foreign material, contributing to the formation of cataracts.
What are the signs of cataracts?
In many cats, cataracts are detected early in their development, during a routine physical exam by our Columbia vets. These cats may not be showing signs of cataracts at home, because cataracts have not yet progressed to the point that they are affecting the cat’s vision.
How are cataracts in cats treated?
The best treatment for cataracts is surgery. This surgery involves breaking down and removing the cataract (a process known as phacoemulsification), then replacing the lens of the eye with an artificial lens.
If your cat has significant inflammation within the eye, cataract surgery may not be an option. Unfortunately, there are no medications that can dissolve cataracts or slow their progression. This means that cataracts will persist. Fortunately, cataracts are not painful and cats typically adjust well to blindness.
In cats with untreated cataracts, medications such as corticosteroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory eye drops are used to decrease the inflammation within the eye.
Even though these medications will not affect the actual cataract, it is important to control inflammation to prevent glaucoma (a potential complication of cataracts and inflammation of the eye). Glaucoma does not respond well to medical treatment and often requires the removal of the eye; therefore, medical treatment of feline cataracts is often focused on preventing secondary glaucoma.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.