Autoimmune eye issue -- Anyone with recent experience?

[duncansmommy]

My rescue is about 9 years old and has had a host of issues, but one is an eye problem that can present one day and look fine the next. I took him to a specialist and she commented that she found eosinophils. So googling I found eosinophilic keratitis. He hasn't ever presented with cornea issues just inflammation around the eye. The eye-doctor had him on a steroid drop which he absolutely hates. But it went into remission. Well, until lately. It just flared up again and my regular vet prescribed an eye drop with dexamethasone, and a couple of antibiotics. I actually put it into my own eye and it stung like heck. However, it does seem to help for about 8-12 hours.

My vet is going to check with a specialist and see if we should use that drop daily as a preventative or just as needed, and also see if there are any other treatments. Meanwhile, my cat hates my guts because of this treatment and it is getting harder and harder to corral him for treatments. He's a bit hard to train because unlike every other cat I've owned, he isn't interested in treats.

I love this silly floof ball and he had a really tough start in life and is pretty shy of humans to begin with. Our relationship has taken years to evolve to the point where he loves and trusts me, but now this is really setting everything back. So very sad.

Any advice?

 

[verna davies]

I sympathize with you, one of my cats had it. It's not something that can be cured but can be treated. Mine kept getting flare ups until the specialist put him on 1% cyclosporine. It put him in remission within weeks. Try holding the bottle of drops in your hand for a few minutes to warm it, the cold solution can startle them. Any questions just ask.

 

[duncansmommy]

I sympathize with you, one of my cats had it. It's not something that can be cured but can be treated. Mine kept getting flare ups until the specialist put him on 1% cyclosporine. It put him in remission within weeks. Try holding the bottle of drops in your hand for a few minutes to warm it, the cold solution can startle them. Any questions just ask.

Was that an eye drop? We switched over to ointment which I used on myself to see if it stings and it doesn't, but of course it leaves you with terrible blurred vision. He gets so worked up over it that he drools like a maniac and acts like I stabbed him. What a drama queen.

 

[verna davies]

It is an eye drop, it's olive oil based and only has a life span of 6 weeks. It's mixed as needed at the eye specialist. Within 1 week of using it her eye was clear and remained so. One drop in each eye per day. Mine got used to it and didn't put up a fight.