Gecko's Eye

[ks7777]

My gecko's had some health problems but one that's bugging me the most is his eye.. one of them is really cloudy and the other one is very clear, I don't know why this is.. My vet said he really doesn't know why. So I'm posting here to see if maybe someone can give me some advice to fix this, he barely opens his eyes and it sort of bugs me I don't want him to lose his sight. Any help would be great thanks a bunch.

 

[Jellybean]

If its not stuck shed, hes probably going blind. May be from infection, parasites, genetics, poor husbandry etc. People may be able to better help you if post a picture.

 

[Jellybean]

A cloudy eye or increased opacity of the eye is associated with reduced transparency of either the cornea, the fluid media within the eye, or the lens. This change may be described as a "film" covering the eye or as an increased cloudiness within eye. Cloudiness of the eye may or may not be associated with a reduction in vision. The causes of a cloudy eye typically fall into one of the following categories:


Cloudiness of the cornea, which may occur with corneal infections, corneal scarring, infiltrative inflammatory diseases of the cornea, fatty infiltration or calcium deposition within the cornea, or corneal edema (fluid accumulation)

Cloudiness of the aqueous humor, which is the fluid that circulates within the front chamber of the eye. This may be due to the accumulation of white blood cells, protein, fatty lipids or blood. http://www.petplace.com/dogs/cloudy-eye-in-dogs/page1.aspx

 

[fl_orchidslave]

Stuck eye shed with leopard geckos is fairly simple to resolve. Give him a warm shallow bath in a plastic lidded container for about 20 min. This will help loosen the shed. Squirt some plain sterile saline (contact lens supply available at drug stores) and gently work off with a q-tip. If it isn't removed, and infection will set in and you will need an experienced reptile vet.

Please post eye photos.

 

[fl_orchidslave]

A cloudy eye or increased opacity of the eye is associated with reduced transparency of either the cornea, the fluid media within the eye, or the lens. This change may be described as a "film" covering the eye or as an increased cloudiness within eye. Cloudiness of the eye may or may not be associated with a reduction in vision. The causes of a cloudy eye typically fall into one of the following categories:


Cloudiness of the cornea, which may occur with corneal infections, corneal scarring, infiltrative inflammatory diseases of the cornea, fatty infiltration or calcium deposition within the cornea, or corneal edema (fluid accumulation)

Cloudiness of the aqueous humor, which is the fluid that circulates within the front chamber of the eye. This may be due to the accumulation of white blood cells, protein, fatty lipids or blood. http://www.petplace.com/dogs/cloudy-eye-in-dogs/page1.aspx

Jellybean, copy and paste information and posting links from dog sites to address gecko issues serves what purpose here? Mammals and reptiles are very different species.

 

[ks7777]

Okay, I attempted to get pictures... I cannot for the life of me get his other eye to open, I called his name petting him, touching it he just opens other one.

Here's some pictures.

 

[Jellybean]

Jellybean, copy and paste information and posting links from dog sites to address gecko issues serves what purpose here? Mammals and reptiles are very different species.

Yes, I agree their different creatures, but a gecko's eye biologically is not much different from a dog or even a human's eye. The infections can manifest themselves with the same symptoms regardless of species. The only exception is the fact that reptiles shed, and notice I said unless it is not stuck shed or related to shed.

 

[ks7777]

You can kind of see the cloudiness.

 

[Adinar]

My gecko's had some health problems but one that's bugging me the most is his eye.. one of them is really cloudy and the other one is very clear, I don't know why this is.. My vet said he really doesn't know why. So I'm posting here to see if maybe someone can give me some advice to fix this, he barely opens his eyes and it sort of bugs me I don't want him to lose his sight. Any help would be great thanks a bunch.

The vet did perscribe any drops or oinments because of possible eye infection? Yeesh. One of my girls had that last year and we started with drops and moved on the oinment when the drops didn't clear things up. Little strange if he didn't do that. By chance does your vet normally deal with herps? Only reason I am asking is because it just seems odd that they sent you home with nothing other than "I don't know" and that's about it.

 

[fl_orchidslave]

That black at the bottom of his eye looks like stuck shed. I suggested a way to remedy it in my above post.

 

[Jellybean]

Thats what I am worried about, aside from skin it could very well be an infection and that would be something you would want to treat so it does not impair his vision.

 

[ks7777]

The vet did perscribe any drops or oinments because of possible eye infection? Yeesh. One of my girls had that last year and we started with drops and moved on the oinment when the drops didn't clear things up. Little strange if he didn't do that. By chance does your vet normally deal with herps? Only reason I am asking is because it just seems odd that they sent you home with nothing other than "I don't know" and that's about it.

He didnt prescribe anything and after our weekly checkup he said he doesnt know when i asked him about his eye

 

[ks7777]

That black at the bottom of his eye looks like stuck shed. I suggested a way to remedy it in my above post.

Hes had that there for a while I thjnk its just his markings hes always had the black around his eyes.

 

[Adinar]

He didnt prescribe anything and after our weekly checkup he said he doesnt know when i asked him about his eye

Yeah, that is still very strange a vet wouldn't do something about that when there is an obvious issue going on there. I would suggest going with what fl_orchirdslave suggested and call the vet and specifically ask for eye drops or oinment for a possible eye infection. If it doesn't get treated it can possibly spread to both eyes and he could have the potential to go blind if it is left go without proper treatment. Contact solution (saline solution) is good to flush the eye and see if you can see any shed that may make it's way to the edges of they eyes when you flush. If you do CAREFULLY wipe it away if you can with a damp (with saline) cotton swab. It will at least remove some and hopefully all of the irritant out of the eye. If you are lucky then there is no infection and it should go away. If not, then yeah you definetally need meds for him.

(Sorry if I'm coming off strong about this, but we had terrible issues with Sobe last summer. She had a nasty infection that spread to both eyes and it took months of drops and oinments before things finally were under control. We thought it was stuck shed, but even when the vet went to flush her eyes out himself he couldn't find anything. So just turned out to be a really nasty and stubborn infection. She's good now, just really wouldn't want anyone else to go thru that.)

 

[Cammyron]

http://geckoforums.net/showthread.php?p=632693#post632693

I've been having similar problems with one of my leos

 

[ks7777]

Yeah, that is still very strange a vet wouldn't do something about that when there is an obvious issue going on there. I would suggest going with what fl_orchirdslave suggested and call the vet and specifically ask for eye drops or oinment for a possible eye infection. If it doesn't get treated it can possibly spread to both eyes and he could have the potential to go blind if it is left go without proper treatment. Contact solution (saline solution) is good to flush the eye and see if you can see any shed that may make it's way to the edges of they eyes when you flush. If you do CAREFULLY wipe it away if you can with a damp (with saline) cotton swab. It will at least remove some and hopefully all of the irritant out of the eye. If you are lucky then there is no infection and it should go away. If not, then yeah you definetally need meds for him.

(Sorry if I'm coming off strong about this, but we had terrible issues with Sobe last summer. She had a nasty infection that spread to both eyes and it took months of drops and oinments before things finally were under control. We thought it was stuck shed, but even when the vet went to flush her eyes out himself he couldn't find anything. So just turned out to be a really nasty and stubborn infection. She's good now, just really wouldn't want anyone else to go thru that.)

Okay, but how do I get to his eye, I don't want to hurt him. I am scared he'll lose his tail. He gets freaked out when I pet him because he doesn't open his eyes to see it's me.

http://geckoforums.net/showthread.php?p=632693#post632693

I've been having similar problems with one of my leos

Oh, that's never any good I hope someone can help you out.

 

[ks7777]

I'm going to talk to the vet on Friday when my next appointment is until then, I am doing some home remedies.

 

[Jordan]

Okay, but how do I get to his eye, I don't want to hurt him. I am scared he'll lose his tail. He gets freaked out when I pet him because he doesn't open his eyes to see it's me.

Geckos aren't really for 'petting' as such, it means nothing to them and has no emotional or welcoming value so that's why he will freak out. Infact, it could be making it worse, it could be discouraging him from opening his eye.
Another problem could be the room may be way too bright, try getting a picture of his eye in the dark, but with the flash on.

^ these things mentioned are not my reasons for the whole cloudiness issue, just the reason why he may not be opening his eyes when you take him out. I'm not disregarding the fact that the infection will obviously affect how often he opens his eyes.

 

[ks7777]

Alright tonight I'll get a picture if I can get him to open his eye.

 

[ks7777]

I have bought some saline solution and I put some in his eyes using eye drop