Intermittent Red Eye And Squinting

[emilyh]

Hi all, I've read so many posts on this forum over the last few weeks, I was hoping your pooled knowledge may be able to help me out!

2.5ish weeks ago, my sweetie Gracie had one eye closed for a full day and some redness on the rim (Sunday when the vet isn't open, of course). When it was still closed the next morning, I brought her in for a check (but of course her eye opened before I got there and stayed open). The vet said she had conjuctivitis and gave me tobramycin drops. I gave them to her twice a day for 7 days as instructed. Near the end, it appeared as though it was starting to get bad again, with her staring at me one eye closed, one open. But then she'd open it and it would be fine! And then it would be red again, with no real rhyme or reason.

I brought her to a different vet 4 days ago, who said she had a stye and gave me an erythromicin ointment to apply twice a day for ten days. the vet also said that because the affected eye is rimmed in white and the other in black, that the affected eye is always going to look pinker because of the pigment.

After having the ointment applied, Gracie understandably closes her eye for a while. When I get home from work, half the time she's still red and squinty, half the time she's not red but will randomly close that eye for slightly longer than the other. There have definitely been periods of time in the last few days where she looked totally healthy. I figured she was healing, but called my vet to check. They recommended I make an appointment with a referred specialist. I did, but the earliest opening I could get was a week from now. Last night after putting on the ointment, she looked fine. Then at 5AM this morning, her eye was very squinty, but I thought I found a hair in it that perhaps got stuck to the ointment. Then at 8AM, fine, so I applied more. When I got home at 4PM, it was red rimmed and closed. When I open the eyelids to look at her, the eye itself looks fine, and the rim is pink but not ghastly. Just enough to raise concern. It's the closing that worries me!

Here are a few pictures from various times in the past few days, she fluctuates and sometimes that eye is totally not red at all but she'll squint it, sometimes it's totally not red and she doesn't squint it, hence my dilemma -

I know, this is the most boring time line ever, but I just don't know what to do any more. My vet is supposed to call me in the morning, but I'm guessing their continued recommendation will be to see a specialist.

Has anyone had any similar experiences?! I'm so worried the continued ointment is hurting her, but I worry I'll hurt her more taking her off it since maybe it's the only thing fighting off whatever is affecting her. I don't feel that taking her to urgent care will be any better than the visits to the regular vet, and feel that only the eye specialist can help at this point... but I want to know I'm doing all I can for her.

I feel like I'm going crazy and this is the only thing I can focus on, hence this insanely rambling post. Any and all thoughts are appreciated.

 

[kalikitty97]

Hi all, I've read so many posts on this forum over the last few weeks, I was hoping your pooled knowledge may be able to help me out!

2.5ish weeks ago, my sweetie Gracie had one eye closed for a full day and some redness on the rim (Sunday when the vet isn't open, of course). When it was still closed the next morning, I brought her in for a check (but of course her eye opened before I got there and stayed open). The vet said she had conjuctivitis and gave me tobramycin drops. I gave them to her twice a day for 7 days as instructed. Near the end, it appeared as though it was starting to get bad again, with her staring at me one eye closed, one open. But then she'd open it and it would be fine! And then it would be red again, with no real rhyme or reason.

I brought her to a different vet 4 days ago, who said she had a stye and gave me an erythromicin ointment to apply twice a day for ten days. the vet also said that because the affected eye is rimmed in white and the other in black, that the affected eye is always going to look pinker because of the pigment.

After having the ointment applied, Gracie understandably closes her eye for a while. When I get home from work, half the time she's still red and squinty, half the time she's not red but will randomly close that eye for slightly longer than the other. There have definitely been periods of time in the last few days where she looked totally healthy. I figured she was healing, but called my vet to check. They recommended I make an appointment with a referred specialist. I did, but the earliest opening I could get was a week from now. Last night after putting on the ointment, she looked fine. Then at 5AM this morning, her eye was very squinty, but I thought I found a hair in it that perhaps got stuck to the ointment. Then at 8AM, fine, so I applied more. When I got home at 4PM, it was red rimmed and closed. When I open the eyelids to look at her, the eye itself looks fine, and the rim is pink but not ghastly. Just enough to raise concern. It's the closing that worries me!

Here are a few pictures from various times in the past few days, she fluctuates and sometimes that eye is totally not red at all but she'll squint it, sometimes it's totally not red and she doesn't squint it, hence my dilemma -

I know, this is the most boring time line ever, but I just don't know what to do any more. My vet is supposed to call me in the morning, but I'm guessing their continued recommendation will be to see a specialist.

Has anyone had any similar experiences?! I'm so worried the continued ointment is hurting her, but I worry I'll hurt her more taking her off it since maybe it's the only thing fighting off whatever is affecting her. I don't feel that taking her to urgent care will be any better than the visits to the regular vet, and feel that only the eye specialist can help at this point... but I want to know I'm doing all I can for her.

I feel like I'm going crazy and this is the only thing I can focus on, hence this insanely rambling post. Any and all thoughts are appreciated.

E emilyh Does your cat ever seem to itch it..or does she have any discharge coming out? My friend's cat has the same problem sometimes, and they just said it was allergies. However, for sake of your kitty and yourself, I would recommend just going to the specialist. If in the case her cornea is scratched, the drops they are giving you for something else might end up bothering her eye even more. She could possibly have something in it, but given the amount of time..I highly doubt it. This used to happen to my kitty, but when it did I could visibly see hair or dust in her eye. I think the specialist would be your best bet in helping her, since they can find out exactly what's causing her to squint. I definitely think you are doing all you can to help her! Don't freak out too much. Let me know what the specialist says if/when you take her!

 

[emilyh]

E emilyh Does your cat ever seem to itch it..or does she have any discharge coming out? My friend's cat has the same problem sometimes, and they just said it was allergies. However, for sake of your kitty and yourself, I would recommend just going to the specialist. If in the case her cornea is scratched, the drops they are giving you for something else might end up bothering her eye even more. She could possibly have something in it, but given the amount of time..I highly doubt it. This used to happen to my kitty, but when it did I could visibly see hair or dust in her eye. I think the specialist would be your best bet in helping her, since they can find out exactly what's causing her to squint. I definitely think you are doing all you can to help her! Don't freak out too much. Let me know what the specialist says if/when you take her!

She itches a little bit, in a normal scratch way I thought! Nothing too outrageous, but I'll keep an eye out, thanks for the info! No discharge, though. But oddly, also no eye crust/boogers in that eye, though her other eye is still getting some as usual. Perhaps because of the ointment. The vet did do an eye stain when she was first checked up 2.5 weeks ago, with no ulcers seen. Though who knows now. I called the specialist the other day the MINUTE they opened but the earliest appointment I could get was next Wednesday, which is insane. I'm calling every day to see if there's a cancellation but not sure what else I can do. If it was red and closed consistently over the last few days, I'd go for the $500 minimum on call eye doctor right now, butttt because it's red, then fine, then red, then fine (and she's playing, eating, sleeping, and purring) I can't quite bring myself to pay it... although, if someone told me right now she could be healed if I just forked over $10,000, I'd do it in a heart beat.

 

[kalikitty97]

She itches a little bit, in a normal scratch way I thought! Nothing too outrageous, but I'll keep an eye out, thanks for the info! No discharge, though. But oddly, also no eye crust/boogers in that eye, though her other eye is still getting some as usual. Perhaps because of the ointment. The vet did do an eye stain when she was first checked up 2.5 weeks ago, with no ulcers seen. Though who knows now. I called the specialist the other day the MINUTE they opened but the earliest appointment I could get was next Wednesday, which is insane. I'm calling every day to see if there's a cancellation but not sure what else I can do. If it was red and closed consistently over the last few days, I'd go for the $500 minimum on call eye doctor right now, butttt because it's red, then fine, then red, then fine (and she's playing, eating, sleeping, and purring) I can't quite bring myself to pay it... although, if someone told me right now she could be healed if I just forked over $10,000, I'd do it in a heart beat.

Given the fact that she is still acting completely normal otherwise, I think the wait is fine. I would hate to pay that much just for them to say that there isn't anything really wrong. I'd say keep calling to see if there's a cancellation, but unless it gets MUCH worse and she's showing signs that it's really bothering her (not playing anymore..acting normal) then I would take her and spend the money.

 

[emilyh]

Given the fact that she is still acting completely normal otherwise, I think the wait is fine. I would hate to pay that much just for them to say that there isn't anything really wrong. I'd say keep calling to see if there's a cancellation, but unless it gets MUCH worse and she's showing signs that it's really bothering her (not playing anymore..acting normal) then I would take her and spend the money.

I appreciate the input, it's hard to know what to do when they can't talk! I'll continue keeping an eye on her. Weirdly, right before and right after putting on her 8PM ointment, her eye seemed more open and less red... now she's asleep, probably to escape my constant staring.

 

[foxden]

E emilyh
Is the ointment in a little tube that you (try) to put under her lower eyelid?
I found a human version of a similar ointment I use when allergies make my eyes feel extra dry or sandy. Immediately after use, my vision is cloudy and blurry until the ointment spreads across my eye. After that, the ointment is very soothing. That makes it far easier to sleep on those nights.

I don't think there is anything in the ointment that will harm Gracie, and I suggest using it as prescribed until your appt with the eye specialist.

 

[emilyh]

E emilyh
Is the ointment in a little tube that you (try) to put under her lower eyelid?
I found a human version of a similar ointment I use when allergies make my eyes feel extra dry or sandy. Immediately after use, my vision is cloudy and blurry until the ointment spreads across my eye. After that, the ointment is very soothing. That makes it far easier to sleep on those nights.

I don't think there is anything in the ointment that will harm Gracie, and I suggest using it as prescribed until your appt with the eye specialist.

Yes, it's a tube that I am kiiind of getting on her eye to the best of my ability, ha. They showed me to squeeze/basically plop a ribbon of it on there then massage up and down on the eyelids mushing them together to spread it around. Tonight it seemed to make her feel better for a bit after application, but it's back to squinting at the moment. I appreciate the insight on the ointment!

 

[CAtman85]

can you share with us what the specialist said about Gracie's eye?

 

[emilyh]

can you share with us what the specialist said about Gracie's eye?

By the time my appointment came around, she was a lot better and after doing some drops and looking at her with machines the specialist said it was probably a herpes outbreak but that they couldn't know for sure when it wasn't active at the time, so to come back next time it happens... paid $200 for peace of mind, I suppose. So now I just stare at her eyes constantly and fearfully! She still squints a bit sometimes but nowhere near as bad as it was. Every time one eye goes squinty for even a second I fear for the worst, though.

Her vet had also said that she may be allergic to the erithromycin so I stopped that halfway through. That makes flea meds, worm meds, and eye meds that she's officially unable to take - UGH.

 

[CAtman85]

We're kind of in the same situation now minus the red eyes. We noticed last week thursday that our cat's left eye was squinty compared to the other. Also his upper left eyelid seems to be a bit swollen. Took him to the vet the following day and was negative for any trauma. He was not too concerned because his activity levels were normal and still eats a ton lol! Right now hes taking clavamox and some eye drop and will be back for follow up by the end of the week. Vet
said URI is a possibility but im hoping its nothing more than a minor irritation.

 

[emilyh]

We're kind of in the same situation now minus the red eyes. We noticed last week thursday that our cat's left eye was squinty compared to the other. Also his upper left eyelid seems to be a bit swollen. Took him to the vet the following day and was negative for any trauma. He was not too concerned because his activity levels were normal and still eats a ton lol! Right now hes taking clavamox and some eye drop and will be back for follow up by the end of the week. Vet
said URI is a possibility but im hoping its nothing more than a minor irritation.

It's so maddening! It's always nice to hear that the vet doesn't think it's serious but then I still spend my time worried. It's crazy how once you notice something on your cat, you're not sure if it's always been like that or it's a sign they have some terrible disease. Yesterday I was convinced her ear was broken because I pet it and then she kept scratching at it...

I hope your bud responds well to the drops!