What are cataracts?
A cataract refers to an increase in the opacity of the lens in the eye. The lens is a structure within the eye made of protein fibers enclosed in a capsule. It is responsible for focusing light on the retina and allowing your cat to see clearly.
When a cat develops a cataract, the usually transparent lens becomes opaque or cloudy, interfering with light's ability to reach the retina. The severity of the cataract can significantly impact your four-legged companion's vision.
Cataracts can occur in cats of any breed, sex, or age. A genetic predisposition to inherited cataracts has been observed in Birmans, British Shorthairs, and Himalayas.
What causes cataracts in cats?
There are many potential causes of cataracts. Any damage to the eye's lens can lead to cataract formation.
Causes of cataracts in cats include the following:
- Inflammation within the eye
- Trauma to the eye
- Metabolic diseases, such as diabetes or high blood pressure
- Infections such as bacterial, fungal, viral or protozoal
- Genetic or hereditary factors
- Nutritional imbalances
- Cancer
- Radiation exposure
Inflammation within the eye, also called uveitis, is the most common cause of cataracts in cats. Various underlying disease processes or internal conditions can trigger feline leukemia virus, feline infectious peritonitis, systemic fungal infections, toxoplasmosis, bartonellosis, and feline immunodeficiency virus.
Uveitis can cause the body's immune system to mistake the lens for a foreign object, contributing to the formation of cataracts.
What are the signs of cataracts?
Our Bellevue veterinarians often discover cataracts early in their development during a routine physical exam or eye exam. These cats may not show signs of cataracts at home because they have not yet progressed to the point where they affect the cat's vision.
Not all hazy eyes are caused by cataracts. As cats age, the lens becomes cloudy due to an aging change known as nuclear or lenticular sclerosis.
If you're curious, you can use your favorite search engine to look for 'cataracts in cats pictures' and compare what you see with your cat. If you suspect something, contact your veterinarian first to schedule an eye exam before doing anything else. Our vets can treat many eye conditions in cats, including cataracts.
How are cataracts in cats treated?
The most effective treatment for cataracts is surgery. This surgery involves breaking down and removing the cataract (a process known as phacoemulsification) and replacing the eye's lens with an artificial one.
If your cat has significant inflammation within the eye, cataract surgery may not be an option. Unfortunately, no medications can dissolve or slow their progression, so cataracts persist.
However, cataracts are not painful, and cats typically adjust well to blindness.
Medications such as corticosteroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory eye drops can reduce inflammation in cats with untreated cataracts.
While these drugs won't impact cataracts, managing inflammation is still crucial to avoid glaucoma, a potential side effect of both inflammation and cataracts.
Since glaucoma is challenging to treat medically and frequently requires the removal of the eye, medical treatment of feline cataracts often focuses on avoiding 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.