Sore Eye -- Nothing Helps Much

[duncansmommy]

So, poor Flynn is a little rescue (5 years old) that apparently had FHV seriously in the shelter. He was fine until he developed asthma a year or so ago. Now I've got him on an inhaler. But about the same time as I was treating him with steroid injections for the asthma he developed a really red, sore eye. The vet prescribed ofloxacin drops and I used it and it cleared up, but came back immediately after we stopped. So then we tried the anti-viral drops and again it sort of got better, but never 100%. Finally tried ofloxacin again and same results. Took him to an opthamologist and on that day his eye actually looked pretty good. She couldn't see anything wrong, but she prescribed a steroid drop 3x a week.

Now I'm still using that drop, but in between days his eye gets red and sore. I have found that just using any sort of drop seems to help. It seems to wash out his eye and he looks much better. Twice a day I have to put something in his eye. He is really starting to hate me. The bribes and play-time after a treatment only undo so much enmity.

I'm just curious if anyone has ever dealt with anything like this. I'm tempted to take him to another eye specialist.

 

[mservant]

I'd probably go back to the original specialist first and let them take another look? Did they check that the eye is draining properly and no issue with blinking or anything that might mean it is too dry and then prone to infection as a result?

 

[epona]

I agree with mservant, take him back in to have it looked at, it could be that the FHV has caused scarring to the eye or problem with the tear duct or something like that - blockage of the tear duct can be a result of FHV, which would cause the eye to be dry and sore.

 

[di and bob]

Make sure they examine the lid itself and any surrounding lashes/hair. It could be a physical irritation like a bump on the lid that is rubbing the eye. The only luck I have had in clearing up infections is with the antibiotic ointment, applied by gently pulling the lower lid down and quickly applying a thin ribbon in the 'pocket' that is formed. It lasts a lot longer than drops.

 

[duncansmommy]

Thanks everyone! It is finally clearing up. I started using an eye drop designed for lubrication once a day. Now I'm not even doing that every day. Although, he started sneezing yesterday so if that is his FHV acting up, we might be doing this again. Ugh.

 

[duncansmommy]

Also, his personality changes so much when his eye is clear! He becomes much less fearful and more social and loving. It is nice having my buddy back to normal.