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Eye Infection � Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the tissue lining the eyelids and attaching to the eyeball near the cornea. The tissue can become irritated due to allergies caused by pollens, grasses, or such. Viruses, bacteria, or fungi can also be the culprit.

If the white part of the eyeball is inflamed as well, this condition is occasionally referred to as “pink eye”.

Symptoms

Both allergies and infections cause a severe redness or 'meaty' appearance of the conjunctiva. Fluid build-up and an increase in the size and number of blood vessels within the tissue are the reasons. Either allergies or infections cause the eye to discharge.

The consistency of the discharge often helps determine its cause. Usually infections caused by bacteria or fungi, can create a thick yellow or greenish eye discharge. The eyelids sometimes stick together. Allergies, on the other hand, cause a clear or watery discharge. Regardless of the cause, a cat with conjunctivitis will often squint and/or keep the third eyelid partially covering the eyeball. Conjunctivitis is often painful, causing a cat to paw at or rub the eye against objects such as your leg or the carpet.

Treatment

All cases of conjunctivitis should be treated at once. A culture and sensitivity test may be necessary to determine if bacteria are the cause, and if so, what medication should be used for treatment. Scrapings of the conjunctiva can be made and examined to test for various viral infections.

Eye drops or ointments are usually the drugs of choice. Eye drops are watery solutions that must be applied every few hours, while ointments last longer and are usually only applied two to three times per day.

This post was written by Addison Jamieson, she regularly writes for Pet Haven and Pretty Gritty Blog. Addison is slowly becoming an authority on insurance pet. Read her blog here.