Understanding Feline Uveitis: Causes, Symptoms, and Man
Symptoms: Red eyes, conjunctival hyperemia, frequent blinking, eye pain, excessive tearing, and abnormal sensations.
Risk Level: Low, but there is a possibility of secondary glaucoma, so caution is advised.
Classification: Eye Disorders
Incidence: Cats: Low; Dogs: High
Keywords: Red eyes, eye pain, conjunctival congestion, excessive tearing, frequent blinking
Reasons Why Cats Can Develop Uveitis:
1. Potential for Secondary Glaucoma: Uveitis itself is relatively rare in causing visual problems. However, due to the inflammationinduced blood vessels and inflammatory products within the eye, there is a risk of secondary glaucoma, which can potentially lead to blindness. While the specifics of glaucoma are not detailed here, it is a serious condition that requires prompt attention. Therefore, uveitis with a risk of secondary glaucoma should not be taken lightly.
2. Possible Systemic Disease Origin: Uveitis can be caused by inflammation spreading from outside the eye to the eye itself. In cats, the probability of uveitis being caused by systemic diseases is particularly high. When uveitis is detected, it is advisable to conduct a comprehensive physical examination to possibly uncover systemic diseases early on. The early detection of uveitis is highly valuable.
Diagnosis: It is crucial to perform slit lamp examination and intraocular pressure (IOP) testing.
The slit lamp examination allows for the examination of the anterior chamber to detect inflammation within the eye and may also reveal adhesions and bleeding due to uveitis. IOP testing can detect a decrease in pressure caused by inflammation. However, since uveitis can lead to secondary glaucoma, which can cause the IOP to be above normal, it is not possible to exclude uveitis solely based on IOP readings.
Treatment: The general principle of treatment is to identify the cause of the inflammation and treat it. However, as mentioned earlier, it is rare to determine the exact cause of uveitis. Therefore, ophthalmic drops are typically used for medical treatment.消炎眼药水 is commonly used to apply drops to the affected area multiple times a day, waiting for inflammation to subside. If there is concurrent infection, antibiotics may also be used.
Prognosis: If the uveitis is not caused by a systemic disease and there is no secondary glaucoma, the prognosis is generally good.
