Red, Swollen Eyes in Kitten: Safe Eye Drops

Recently, some cat owners have reported that their feline companions are experiencing red and swollen eyes, frequent tearing, difficulty in opening their eyes, and an abundance of eye boogers. What could be causing this, and what medication would be most effective?

It turns out that these symptoms are typically indicative of conjunctivitis, which is an inflammation of the conjunctiva, the thin membrane covering the white part of the eye and the inner surface of the eyelids. However, medication should not be used randomly. The specifics of the situation must be carefully considered. Today, I'll provide some general approaches to dealing with this issue.

What is Conjunctivitis?

Conjunctivitis refers to the inflammatory changes in the conjunctiva, which can be categorized into catarrhal, purulent, and follicular conjunctivitis.

Catarrhal conjunctivitis is often the early sign of various types of conjunctivitis, characterized by redness, swelling, and congestion of the conjunctiva, with the corners of the eyes producing a serous or serouspurulent discharge.

Purulent conjunctivitis is more straightforward, involving a bacterial infection that leads to a significant amount of pus. During this stage, the cat's upper and lower eyelids may stick together, making it hard for them to open their eyes. This condition can also be accompanied by clouding of the cornea and eyelid eczema.

Follicular conjunctivitis presents with conjunctival edema, congestion, and a serouspurulent discharge, which later turns into purulent mucus. The third eyelid may develop red or dark red granules (lymphoid follicles) of varying sizes, and the disease can progress rapidly.

What Causes Cat Conjunctivitis?

There are numerous potential causes of conjunctivitis in cats, including but not limited to:

Mechanical irritation: Accidental injuries, scratches, cuts, foreign bodies in the eyes, and repeated irritation from hair.

Infectious factors: Such as feline herpesvirus (rhinotracheitis), feline calicivirus, chlamydial infection, and others.

Infections from adjacent tissues

Adverse reactions to chemicals or medications

Allergic reactions

What Eye Drops Should Be Used for Cat Conjunctivitis?

The treatment of conjunctivitis in cats primarily focuses on antiinflammatory measures, but the choice of eye drops should be tailored to the situation.

Bacterial Eye Drops

Mainly used for conjunctivitis caused by bacterial infections, these drops help to inhibit and eliminate bacteria.

Common bacterial eye drops include chloramphenicol, neomycin sulfate, levofloxacin, and tobramycin. It is recommended to use petspecific Beranming (neomycin sulfate eye drops), applied 3 to 5 times a day, which can help alleviate redness, pain, and excessive discharge.

Antiviral Eye Drops

Primarily used for conjunctivitis caused by viral infections. Commonly used drugs include acyclovir, valacyclovir, ganciclovir, and ribavirin. These medications are effective against herpesviruses and can also be used for chlamydial infections.

★Antiviral eye drops can be alternated with antibacterial eye drops to tackle both inflammation and viral infection, helping the cat recover more quickly.

Repair Eye Drops

Conjunctivitis in cats can lead to corneal damage. If there is clouding of the cornea, it may be necessary to use growth factor eye drops and corneal repair eye drops under veterinary guidance.

It's important to note that before applying any eye drops to a kitten, the eyes should be cleaned to ensure the medication works effectively. You can clean the eyes using physiological saline or petspecific eye wash solutions. If the infection is not severe, you can also gently wipe away the discharge with a cotton ball soaked in physiological saline.