felis - Articles
Eye: lens opacity
Introduction
- Cause: secondary to uveitis, trauma, diabetes (very rarely gives cataract in cat), lens luxation or glaucoma.
- Signs: opacity of lens.
- Diagnosis: history, clinical signs, ophthalmoscopic examination, ultrasonography.
- Treatment: surgical removal if total.
- Prognosis: good.
Presenting signs
- Defective vision noted by owner (if bilateral).
- Difference in appearance of eye.
Breed/Species predisposition
- Rare in the cat (cf canine).
Pathogenesis
Etiology
- Secondary to uveitis Anterior uvea: traumatic uveitis.
- Secondary to trauma particularly following penetrating injury.
- Rarely secondary to diabetes Diabetes mellitus in cat (cf dog).
- Also seen following lens luxation Eye: lens luxation or glaucoma Glaucoma.
- No primary hereditary cataracts in the cat reported to date although Birman Birman breed may be thus affected.
Pathophysiology
- Disruption of lens fibers → opacity.
- Sorbitol accumulation in diabetics → disruption of lens fiber → lens opacity.
Timecourse
- Varies according to cause:
- Usually chronic onset.
- Occasionally very acute and develops over days.
Diagnosis
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Treatment
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Prevention
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Outcomes
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
Other sources of information
- Barnett K C & Crispin S M (1998) Feline Ophthalmology - an atlas and text. W B Saunders & Co Ltd.
- Petersen-Jones S & Crispin S (2002) BSAVA Manual of Small Animal Ophthalmology. 2nd edn. British Small Animal Veterinary Association. ISBN 0 905214 54 4