Cat Eye Infection- Causes, Symptoms and Treatment of Eye Infection in Cats

Eye infections in cats are quite common and are caused by a variety of pathogens. There are a number of disorders that result in eye infections in cats and they may be viral, protazoa, or bacterial, parasitic or fungal. Eye infections can affect one (unilateral) or both eyes (bilateral). Luckily, most feline eye disease can be successfully treated by a veterinarian.
Causes of Cat Eye Infection
Different parts of the eyeball and surrounding area can become infected or inflamed. If it's the conjunctiva (the pink membrane which covers the front of the eyeball & the inside of the eyelids), it is known as "conjunctivitis". Conjunctivitis is probably the most common eye infection in cats. There are several causes of cat eye infections including viral, and bacterial, or fungal infectious agents. Viral eye infection in cats caused by the Feline herpesvirus-1 is the most frequent cause of feline conjunctivitis, or redness the eye. Feline herpesvirus-1 is very frequent in cats. Eye problems in cats are not as common as in dogs, but are still usually encountered in veterinary clinics.
What are the symptoms of eye infection in cats?

Cat eye infection
Photo by stb-dannenmann.de

Symptoms can include:
+Redness in the eye
+Squinting
+Itching
+Discharge
+Swelling
+Swollen eyes or eyelids
+Itching
+Excessive tearing
+Crusting over the eyelid
+Change in appearance of the eye (cloudy colour)
The most common symptoms are redness and discharge in the eye. Bacterial infection must be treated with antibiotics or medicated eye drops prescribed by your veterinarian.
Treatment of Cat Eye Infection
Oral treatments such as interferon and lysine can help shorten the course of infection and/or prevent future infections. Cat eye infections which are caused by bacteria are also treated with topical antibacterial ointments twice daily for 14 days. Treatment for fungal eye infection in cats includes the use of oral anti-fungal medications as fluconazole, triazole or voriconazole and itraconazole. If the vet prescribes certain antibiotic medications you will have to administer them on time. You may also have to use eye drops to bring relief from the itching and inflammation. Also wash your hands thoroughly after you touch your cat eyes as you could contaminate other surfaces even though you may not contract the infection yourself.
Cat eye infections can cause your pet a lot of discomfort. So as to protect your cat eyesight you must make sure that the infection doesn’t progress. You need to therefore seek medical help soon after the symptoms arise.