How to Diagnose Eyelid Conditions in Cats

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: Bring your cat to a spot by a window or in a well lit room.

   Make sure your cat is facing into the light so that her face is fully illuminated., Ask the assistant to gently restrain your cat by holding her in a way that seems comfortable for her but will also keep her still.
   
   Your assistant can cup her against your chest or place both hands on either side of the cat.
   
   Your assistant should put your cat in a position where she feels relaxed. , Use one hand (your left hand if you are right handed) to steady her head and turn it towards you.
   
   Do this by making a "C-shape" with your forefinger and thumb; place your cat’s chin on your thumb and place your forefinger over her forehead. , If one eye is smaller than the other, the chances are she is squinting.
   
   Cats do this in response to eye irritation or discomfort, so the smaller eye bears closer examination later as it may be the problem eye. , Eyelid abnormalities are often caused by rubbing and redness on the surface of your cat’s eye, so examining the cornea can help tell you if there is a problem.
   
   Irritation or infection will cause the cornea to become red or inflamed.Compare one eye with another.
   
   Both should appear the same, and the whites of both eyes should not be inflamed.
   
   Look for any large angry blood vessels threading over the white of your cat’s eyes.
   
   If one eye is redder than the other, this is likely to be your cat’s problem eye.
   
   If both eyes are red it could indicate a more general problem such as an eye infection, but it is also possible your cat may have an anatomical problem that is affecting both of her eyes. , Discharges can be mucopurulent (a mixture of jelly and pus), purulent (pus), or clear (usually tear fluid).A common eye problem in cats is a narrow or blocked tear duct within the eyelid.
   
   Because your cat’s tears cannot drain away they may spill over her cheek and leave a rust-colored stain. , This is a useful tool because it throws strong shadows on the eye and can illuminate any stray hairs casting a shadow on the corneas of the eyes.You will also be able to see your cat’s eyelids more clearly.You need good eyesight to examine your cat’s eyelids, as you’ll be looking at your cat’s eyelashes and for any stray hairs.
   
   So if you are farsighted, put on your glasses before you start the examination with the pen light. , In cats a common problem is entropion, where their eyelids turn inwards.
   
   Normally, their eyelid should glide across the cornea without digging in or rubbing eyelashes against the surface of the cornea.If you aren’t sure what a normal eyelid looks like, study your own eyelids in the mirror.
   
   You will notice your eyelashes point away from your eye, and your eyelid has a narrow rim of hairless skin which rests against the cornea.
   
   As you blink, your eyelid will travel parallel to the cornea without digging in. , Does their eyelid glide over the surface or does it have a tendency to roll inward? , Take your time and examine each eyelash to make sure none of them are rolling inwards towards the eye.
   
   If just one hair is rolling inwards, give your cat’s eye a wipe with a moist towel or cotton ball.
   
   Your cat may just have one stray loose hair that comes away easily.
   
   Most anatomical problems on cats involve their whole eyelid, in which case a whole row of lashes will turn inward rather than just one eyelash. , Just like your eyes, your cat’s eyelids should be smooth without any lumps or bumps.
   
   A common eye problem for cats is cysts that develop on the leading edge (far edge) of their eyelid.
   
   These cysts look like round fleshy beads stuck onto the cat’s eyelid. , Then, apply a gentle dragging movement to the skin, away from her eye.
   
   This will help you check for entropion in your cat’s eye.Entropion is the turning in of the eyelids.
   
   It can affect both of your cat’s eyelids or just one eyelid.
   
   This turning in happens because of excessive skin that pushes your cat’s eyelid up into a scroll shape.
   
   To check the lower eyelid you will gently pull downward, and to check the upper eyelid you will gently pull upward.
   
   This will help to move your cat’s eyelid away from the cornea.
   
   In a normal eyelid, the pink lining of the eyelid will be revealed.
   
   If your cat has entropion, you will be taking up slack skin, rather than dragging on the eyelid, so it will be more difficult to expose the inner pink lining of your cat’s eye. , If wet hairs are rubbing on your cat’s eye and popping out towards you, your cat likely has entropion., Sometimes entropion puts a kink in your cat’s tear ducts, which are located in the inner corner of your cat’s eyelids.
   
   If your cat’s tear ducts cannot drain properly, your cat will have tear staining or rust-colored streaks on her cheeks., Entropion is an uncomfortable condition for your kitty.
   
   It really is the equivalent of having permanent grit in your eye.
   
   Keep in mind that many cats do not show discomfort due to entropion, because they have gotten used to having the condition and are not aware this may be an issue that can be fixed. , If any bumps get in the way while you do this, your cat may have eyelid cysts.
   
   Eyelid cysts (meibomian gland cysts) look like small pink or brown beads stuck onto the margins of your cat’s eyelids., Eyelid cysts are not cancerous and not life threatening, but they do rub on the surface of your cat’s eye and cause irritation, so, you would likely want to have them surgically removed from your cat’s eyes., Keep in mind that some cats are born with narrow tear ducts which can't properly drain tear fluid away.
   
   As a result, their tears will continually spill over onto their cheeks, making them wet. , To reach a clear diagnosis, your vet will put a few drops of a special dye called fluorescein into your cat’s eye.This dye is safe and non-irritating.
   
   It will drain via the tear ducts to the tip of the nose and inside the upper lip, leaving a green stain.
   
   If the tear ducts are blocked, the dye will spill over your cat’s face, leaving an orange stain.
   
   To treat blocked tear ducts, it is possible to flush them by placing a fine catheter into the duct and washing them through with sterile saline.
   
   However, your cat will need to be anesthetized during this procedure.
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   Step 2: Have an assistant sit on a chair with your cat on her lap.

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   Step 3: Stand or kneel facing the cat

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   Step 4: with your eyes level with her eyes.

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   Step 5: Check if both of your cat’s eyes are the same size.

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   Step 6: Notice if her eyes are red or inflamed.

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   Step 7: Look for any discharge coming from her eyes.

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   Step 8: Use a pen light to examine your cat’s eyelids.

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   Step 9: Check if your cat’s eyelids are flush with the surface of the cornea.

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    Step 10: Watch your cat blink.

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    Step 11: Notice if their eyelashes point away from the cornea.

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    Step 12: Check if the edge of their eyelids are smooth.

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    Step 13: Place your fingertip 1cm away from the leading edge of your cat’s eye.

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    Step 14: While applying traction to your cat’s eyelid

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    Step 15: look for any wet hairs.

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    Step 16: Notice if your cat has rust-colored streaks on her cheeks.

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    Step 17: Take your cat to the vet if they have entropion.

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    Step 18: Try to draw a mental line of eyeliner around your cat’s eyelids.

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    Step 19: Ask your vet if your cat needs surgery to remove any cysts.

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    Step 20: Notice if your cat has constantly wet cheeks.

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    Step 21: Allow your vet to check your cat’s tear ducts.

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