Anyone have a cat with glaucoma?

[Umbongo]

(also in veterinary)
For the past few years my cat has always had a left eye that was very slightly bloodshot and a slightly dilated pupil. TBH my parents thought nothing of it and thought it must have been due to having a large abscess next to his eye that was drained and treated etc.

Well yesterday he started to get a gooey eye and looked slightly larger and cloudier than his healthy eye. My dad tried to convince me to just clean him up a bit but to be on the safe side I took him to the vets today. Turns out he has glaucoma in his left eye, vet said it could be from anything but the abscess he had a few years ago could have something to do with it.

She has given me some eye drops to clear up any infection and settle it down etc. However she has said his eye may eventually need to be taken out if he appears to be in pain or the eye keeps getting bigger. She said sometimes the eye can stabilize and the glaucoma may not develop further.

He seems happy and content. Sleeping about the place as usual and doesn't ever turn down a meal. He is 9 years old domestic moggy and isn't insured.

Just wondering if anyone else has had this problem and what has happened, how much the operation cost etc. Obviously if he needs surgery then I am willing to fork out for it...just interested to know.

Currently curled up purring in front of the fireplace

Thank in advance

p.s. please no nasty comments...he means a lot to me and I think this has been slow to develop hence having not noticed, also being at uni the past 3 years I haven't seen him much and dad doesn't seem to care much for him

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Ah, bless, poor moggy! No experience of eye problems in cats but my horse had to have an eye removed because of a very painful condition. Can't remember how much the surgery was but it was very quick. I have a human friend who suffers from glaucoma and it's my understanding that it can be quite painful as it progresses - this would be why the advice is to remove it if necessary. Animals can be incredibly stoic about things that would have you and me running to the doctor (or the wine cupboard!) so I'd watch moggie carefully for signs of him worrying at the eye or screwing it up tight or excessive tear production, all of which could indicate pain. My horse positively skipped out of the recovery box on his way back to the stable after the surgery, out of pain for the first time in 6 months. He's coped brilliantly, as your moggie would. Fingers crossed for you x

 

[traceyann]

Iv just done nine months of treatment for this it started in one eye then went into the other my cat is seventeen and has cost 1200 so far but i did find changing his food stopped it getting worse id had every eye drop on the shelve in the end they sewed up his worse eye it did help a bit and then had his stiches removed after two weeks hes still going on pain killers i dont let him go out anymore as i think he a bit blind and deaf i wouldnt put him though the eye operation because of his age and both eyes were affected as they did want to remove it but like your cat more than happy to sleep all day infront of the fire.But dont let him get to close as it drys the eyes out and causes pain