What are cataracts?
A cataract is an increase in the opacity of the ey
e’s lens. The lens is a structure within the eye, composed of protein fibers encased within a capsule. It focuses light on the retina and allows clear vision. The structure of the eye is like a camera, which has a lens to focus light on the film.
When a cat develops a cataract, the normally clear lens develops a cloudy or opaque appearance that interferes with the light reaching the retina. Depending on the severity of the cataract, this interference can significantly impact the cat’s vision.
Cataracts can occur in cats of any age, sex, or breed. A genetic predisposition to inherited cataracts has been observed in Himalayan, Birman, and British shorthair breeds.
What causes cataracts?
There are many potential causes of cataracts. Any type of damage to the lens can result in the formation of a cataract. Causes of cataracts that have been described in cats include the following:
- inflammation within the eye
- genetic or hereditary factors
- trauma to the eye
- metabolic diseases, such as diabetes or high blood pressure
- nutritional imbalances
- radiation exposure
- cancer
- infection: viral, bacterial, fungal, or protozoal
The most common cause of cataracts in cats is inflammation within the eye, which is often described as uveitis. This condition can result from a number of underlying diseases processes. Uveitis can lead the body’s immune system to recognize the lens as a foreign material, contributing to the formation of cataracts.
What are the signs of cataracts?
The signs of cataracts vary significantly, depending on the size of the cataract. In many cats, cataracts are detected early, during a routine physical exam. These cats may not show signs of cataracts at home, because the cataracts have not yet progressed to the point that they are affecting the cat’s vision.
In cats with advanced cataracts, however, you may notice that the eyes have a hazy appearance in certain types of light. You may also note that your cat has trouble seeing well enough to get around your home. She may have trouble going up or down stairs, finding her food bowl, or navigating around furniture that has been moved from its previous location.
It is important to note that not all hazy eyes are caused by cataracts. As cats age, the lens often develops a cloudy appearance due to an aging change known as nuclear sclerosis or lenticular sclerosis. This is normal and does not cause blindness (see handout “Lenticular Sclerosis in Cats” for information on this condition). Only your veterinarian can distinguish between a cataract and lenticular sclerosis.
How will my veterinarian diagnose cataracts?
Cataracts are diagnosed by an ophthalmic exam. Your veterinarian will use a special instrument called an ophthalmoscope to look into your cat’s eye and assess its internal structures. If your veterinarian sees abnormal opacities within or on the surface of the lens, they will diagnose your cat with a cataract.
Once your cat has been diagnosed with cataracts, your veterinarian will perform a diagnostic workup to determine the cause of the cataracts. In most cats, cataracts develop as a secondary reaction to some other underlying disease. Your veterinarian will perform a thorough physical exam, blood tests, a urinalysis, and other diagnostics to try and determine the underlying cause of your cat’s cataracts.
How are cataracts treated?
The ideal treatment for cataracts is surgery. This surgery, which is performed by a veterinary ophthalmologist, involves breaking down and removing the cataract (a process known as phacoemulsification), then replacing the lens of the eye with an artificial lens. If your veterinarian feels that your cat is a candidate for cataract surgery, you will be referred to a veterinary ophthalmologist for a more thorough eye workup.
If your cat has significant inflammation within the eye, cataract surgery may not be a feasible option. Unfortunately, there are no medications that can dissolve cataracts or slow their progression, which means the cataracts will persist. Fortunately, cataracts are not painful, and cats typically adjust well to blindness.
In cats with untreated cataracts, medications such as corticosteroids or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory eye drops are used to decrease the inflammation within the eye. These medications will have no effect on the actual cataract, but they can help prevent glaucoma (a potential complication of cataracts and inflammation of the eye). Glaucoma does not respond well to medical treatment and often requires removal of the eye. For that reason, medical treatment of feline cataracts is often focused on preventing secondary glaucoma.
