5 Siamese Cat Eye Problems: Causes, Symptoms And Cure

In this article, we’ll walk ourselves through some common Siamese cat eye problems they may face throughout their lifespan. The discussion will include causes, symptoms, and proper treatment of eye problems in these beautiful feline friends.

Let’s now jump right into its exploration phase.

5 Common Siamese Cat Eye Problems

This beautiful breed of cats is prone to various eye problems. Cat owners should be aware of these eye problems in Siamese cats and should know how to treat them if symptoms of these eye problems are found inside their cats.

A list of 5 common Siamese cat eye problems is as follows:

1. Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
2. Conjunctivitis
3. Corneal Ulcers
4. Glaucoma
5. Entropion

1. Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)

Gradual deterioration of the retina is triggered by an eye disease named Progressive Retinal Atrophy. As a result, blindness is caused in the cats that are affected by it.

Siamese cats are affected more that other breeds of cats by this inherited condition.

1.1. Symptoms

Symptoms of PRA disease include:

• Your Siamese cat may encounter difficulty at night or in a dim light
• Reduction in the peripheral vision
• Adaption to changes in lighting in slow
• Your cat may clumsy or bump into objects
• Pupils that are dilated and have no response to light changes
• The eyes appear hazy or cloudy
• Finally, complete blindness

1.2. Causes

Some causes of PRA disease in Siamese cats include:

1. Genetic mutation is the cause of PRA that disrupts the functions of the retinal cells. It’s passed down from parents to the offspring cats.
2. Genetic factors, environment, and lifestyle of Siamese cats can also be the cause of developing PRA.
3. The age at which PRA manifests itself varies depending on genetics, type of PRA, or other environmental factors. In some cats, Progressive Retinal Atrophy develops at an early age while in others it occurs later in life.
4. High blood pressure, diabetes, or some other health conditions can also contribute to creating the PRA disease or aggravate its symptoms.
5. Chemicals and toxins can cause retinal cell damage that contributes to the triggering of Progressive Retinal Atrophy in Siamese cats.

1.3. Treatment

Unfortunately, Siamese cats suffering from Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) have no cure. However, there are some steps that we can take to decrease the disease’s progress and make the quality of your cat’s life better. The steps are as follows:

1. Diagnose the health of your cat on a regular basis so the disease’s progress can be monitored and the treatment can be adjusted according to it.
2. Provide your beautiful Siamese cat with clean, free-from obstacles, and safe environment. Assist your cat in navigating its surroundings easily with the use of contrasting colors or textured surfaces.
3. In order for your cat to see better, provide a well-lit environment, especially if it is dim or at night.
4. According to some research, feeding your cat a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants may aid in slowing down the PRA’s progression.
5. Do feel free to collaborate with a veterinary ophthalmologist who can provide supportive care to your cat, which includes eye drops, to help manage symptoms and slow down the disease progression.

2. Conjunctivitis

Inflammation of the conjunctiva is the reason behind Conjunctivitis eye condition in Siamese cats. It results in covering the inner lids and white part of the eye with thin, transparent tissue. This eye problem is common among Siamese cat breeds.

2.1. Symptoms

Symptoms of this eye condition in Siamese cats are as follows:

• Conjunctival swelling and redness
• Sensitivity to light
• pawing or rubbing the eyes
• Eye discharge that is either watery or thick
• The eyes appear cloudy or hazy
• Squinting or blinking excessively

2.2. Causes

The causes of Conjunctival inflammation eye condition in Siamese cats are listed below:

1. Bacterial or viral infections, such as feline herpesvirus or chlamydia, can cause conjunctivitis.
2. Conjunctival inflammation can be caused by irritants like chemicals, smoke, or some other foreign objects.
3. This eye condition is caused by allergies to environmental factors such as pollen, dust, or mold.

2.3. Treatment

Some of the treatments include:

1. Antibiotics may be prescribed if the bacterial infection is the reason behind the occurrence of conjunctivitis.
2. In order to aid in the reduction of inflammation and relieve discomfort, medications such as steroids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be prescribed.
3. Antiviral medications may be prescribed to help manage symptoms of conjunctivitis if a viral infection is responsible for developing it.
4. In order to help lubricate the eyes, manage infection, and relieve discomfort, we can use ointments or eye drops.
5. If allergies or irritants are the reason behind the occurrence of conjunctivitis, then limiting or completely removing these factors may be beneficial.

3. Corneal Ulcers

This eye condition may occur in Siamese cats and it’s common in this breed of cats. The reason includes various factors like infections, some medical conditions, and trauma.

3.1. Symptoms

The symptoms include:

• Redness and inflammation of the eyes
• Squinting or blinking excessively
• Watery or thick discharge of water from the eye
• The eyes appear cloudy or hazy
• Light sensitivity
• Pawing or rubbing the eyes
• Visual impairment

3.2. Causes

Some causes of corneal ulcers occurrence in Siamese cats are specified below:

1. Physical trauma to the eye, such as scratches or foreign objects, can result in corneal ulcers.
2. Corneal ulcers can also be triggered by bacterial or fungal infections.
3. Dry eye or feline herpesvirus can also make your beautiful Siamese cat more vulnerable to corneal ulcer eye disease.

3.3. Treatment

See below points to understand how to properly treat this disease:

1. If the reason behind this disease is bacterial infections then in order to get rid of these infections, a prescription of antibiotics may be advised.
2. Antifungal medications may be advised if the reason behind the occurrence of a corneal ulcer is a fungal infection.
3. To alleviate discomfort, pain medication may be prescribed.
4. Prescription eye drops or ointments may be used in order to aid in lubricating the eyes, relieve discomfort, and manage infection.
5. In some cases, surgery is the only way through which the repairing process of a corneal ulcer is done in order to prevent further complications.

4. Glaucoma

Increased pressure within the eye is caused by glaucoma. It results in optic nerve damage and potential vision loss.

4.1. Symptoms

The symptoms of glaucoma disease in Siamese cats include:

• Tear production increases
• The appearance of redness in the eyes
• Eyes’ haziness or cloudiness
• Squinting or holding the eyes in a closed position
• Pupils that are enlarged or dilated
• Visual impairment
• Eye enlargement

4.2. Causes

Some causes that trigger developing glaucoma in Siamese cats are given below:

1. Genetic predisposition is one of the causes that Siamese cats develop glaucoma.
2. The increased pressure and the development of glaucoma are caused by eye inflammation, such as uveitis.
3. Glaucoma’s development is also triggered by eye trauma, such as a blunt force injury.

4.3. Treatment

Some treatments include:

1. Oral medications or prescribed eye drops may be used to aid in reducing intraocular pressure and managing glaucoma symptoms.
2. In cases that do not respond to medications, then preventing further damage to the optic nerve and relieving intraocular pressure is done through surgery.
3. If some underlying condition is triggering glaucoma, then treating this condition may aid in getting relief from it.

5. Entropion

The eyelid rolls inward in this condition which results in eyelashes rubbed against the cornea and potentially causing irritation and infection.

4.1. Symptoms

Some symptoms that Siamese cats suffer from entropion shows are as follows:

• Redness of the eyes
• discharge from the eyes
• Tears that are excessive
• Holding the eyes closed or squinting
• Abrasions or corneal ulcers
• pawing or rubbing the eye
• Rolling of eyelids inward

4.2. Causes

Some of the causes of entropion in Siamese cats are given below:

1. Entropion may be genetically predisposed in Siamese cats.
2. The development of entropion can be triggered as a result of trauma to the eye or the surrounding area.
3. The occurrence of entropion can be executed by inflammation within the eye, such as conjunctivitis.

4.3. Treatment

Some treatments to aid in getting relief from entropion in Siamese cats are as follows:

1. The need of surgical correction may be required to reposition the eyelid and prevent corneal irritation, in case of chronic entropion.
2. To relieve symptoms and prevent infection, prescription eye drops or ointments may be used.
3. Treat the condition in order to get rid of/relieve entropion symptoms, if it’s caused by an underlying condition, such as conjunctivitis.

FAQs

Conclusion

In conclusion, we have discussed the symptoms, causes, and proper treatment of 5 Siamese cat eye problems. This breed of cats is vulnerable to various eye problems so it’s the responsibility of cat owners to take care of them. Taking care includes regular diagnosis of the Siamese cat’s health, proper diet, and exercises as prescribed by the veterinarian.

Providing them with a clean, allergen-free, and healthy environment may also aid in reducing the risks of eye problems in these Siamese cats. Thank you for reading this post.