Cataracts In Cats

Cataracts are one of the cat diseases that are more likely to affect senior cats. Though cataracts are more prevalent in senior cats, they can affect cats of any age. Vision relies on the eye’s ability to focus light through the lens of the eye. The light passes through the lens to the retina at the back of the eye. Any blockage of light from passing through the lens to the retina impairs vision. The presence and progression of cataracts can lead to feline blindness.

The presence of feline cataracts decreases the cat’s visual acuity. Cataracts affect the lens of the eye and distort the cat’s vision. The lens is normally clear. Cataracts cause the lens to become cloudy.

The onset of cat cataracts may be part of the aging process for a senior cat. Though cataracts in cats are likely to occur in senior cats, cataracts are not considered normal. Cat’s eyes change and a cat may have a discoloration of the eye that is not a cataract, but a normal part of aging. Cataracts can be a complication of a disease, infection, or injury to the eye. Feline diabetes mellitus can cause diabetic retinopathy and lead to cataracts and other vision problems.
The cat owner may notice signs of impaired vision in the cat. The pupil of the cat’s eye may have a white or cloudy spot on it. A veterinarian will examine the cat’s eyes and determine if there is a cataract or if it is a harmless discoloration associated with aging.

If there is a cat cataract present, the veterinarian may judge the amount of the impairment. A small cataract at the side of the lens is less intrusive to vision than a cataract in the central field of vision. If the cataract is causing significant impairment of the cat’s vision, the veterinarian may recommend a surgical procedure to remove the cataract. There is a high success rate for cataract surgery. The veterinarian may warn the cat owner of potential complications of cataract surgery including a detachment of the retina or infection. A cat must be in relatively good health to undergo any surgery including one for feline cataracts.