Healthy eyes are important for a cat. In the event of changes and diseases, you should consult a vet as soon as possible, as many eye conditions can only be treated well at an early stage.
Cats use their eyes for orientation, searching for food and recognizing danger. Look at your cat's eyes regularly and note any deviations from normal. Compare both eyes with each other: differences in the appearance of both eyes are always an indication of a disease.
Recognizing eye diseases
Common signs of eye disease are redness of the conjunctiva and eye discharge, possibly also rubbing, blinking and photophobia. These signs occur when the conjunctiva is inflamed, for example due to an infection or a foreign body. However, they can also indicate an injury to the cornea, inflammation inside the eye or an acute increase in intraocular pressure.
The lens can become cloudy with age. Cats then gradually lose their ability to see. As they can still find their way around their familiar surroundings very well, the clouding of the lens (cataract) is not always noticed immediately. Sometimes, however, animals go blind quite suddenly without anything being visible in the eye. They then feel their way carefully, refuse to walk or bump into obstacles.
An injury to the eye
Injuries to the eye or eyelids should also be treated as quickly as possible. Deeper tears in the eyelids must be sutured so that they can continue to close properly and protect the eye from drying out. Cover the injured eye with a damp cloth or apply a light head bandage and take the cat immediately to a vet, preferably one who specializes in ophthalmology.