Hi All! I think that I mentioned that when my family took in a new kitten, which we named Casper, that she had some eye issues.
Our vet had us use a couple of different eye drops to try to resolve those issues but they did very little to help her. He even at one point thought she could be blind. I told him that I didn't suspect she was blind since she was really good at chasing toys and laser pointers. He thought that was very encouraging but also felt that we should take her to see a veterinarian eye specialist that may offer another treatment plan for her eyes and or possible surgery as she could have a blocked tear duct.
We found a Specialist to take her to which is approximately an hour away from us and we took Casper there. My husband and I were preparing for Casper possibly having to need surgery and the cost of it but also hoping that it wouldn't come to that.
When we got to the Eye Specialist a technician came out to our vehicle to get Casper as the office was not allowing anyone in the building. The technician said the doctor would check Casper over and come out to talk to us. Casper was inside for under an hour and the doctor brought her out to us and gave us his opinion on her eye issues. He said some of her eye damage is from FHV (Feline herpesvirus) which most stray cats have. He also said that she has some pretty bad abrasions on her eyes which happened before she was found and came to live with us.
The good news is that the doctor informed us that she can see very well and that she would not need surgery. Her tear ducts were working fine. He gave us two more prescriptions for different eye drops. One he gave us right away and the other would be mailed to us in a few days from a compounding pharmacy in a different state. Additionally, he informed us that Casper's eyes will never look normal even with these new medications but they should help.
We got Casper home and started her new eye drop medications and I have to tell you that putting them in her eyes was definitely a two person job. Casper hated it and we had to do it twice a day for one medication for two weeks and two drops each day five to ten minutes apart with the other drops till the medication was finished. The medications did seem to help her eyes quite a bit. We followed up with a visit to our regular vet for Casper to get her next set of shots and he said her eyes have improved greatly.
Anyway, all of my photos of Casper that I've shown have been of her sleeping as she sleeps a lot like most cats do. However, I have captured some photos of Casper not sleeping to show you also in this post and explain why her eyes look the way they do.
I'm really happy that Casper can see well and did not have to have surgery at least for now. Casper is a rambunctious little girl kitty and we love her even when she gets a little mischievous in her cat-like ways. Sometimes, while she sleeps she will cry out and I wonder if she could be re-living whatever it was that caused the abrasions in her eyes. When I'm near her and it happens then I put my hand on her and tell her it's okay and she is safe now. She usually falls right back to sleep.
This month she is due at the vet to be spayed which I expect and hope goes okay then she should be done for awhile with vet visits. Our vet here knows what special eye drops the Specialist prescribed so he can order the same ones if need be.
That is my update on Casper's eyes. Her eyes may look different but she can see and is still a beautiful cat to us! She is a part of our family and is very much loved! 馃挅
Take care and hope you have or had a Happy Caturday!! meow 馃樃
All photos and text by me 