Cat Eye Discharge Treatment

Cat eye discharge can have a variety of appearances, such as watery, gray, yellow, green and thick, or bloody. Some amount of discharge from a cat's eye is not uncommon, and is the natural way that a cat's eyes will clean themselves out. However, if the discharge cannot be easily removed with a damp cloth, your cat could be suffering from an ailment. Here are some possible problems that result in eye discharge in cats:

Keratitis: the inflammation of the cornea
Conjunctivitis: the inflammation of the conjunctiva and sclera
Blepharitis: the inflammation of the eyelids
Corneal ulcer: the erosion through two out of three layers of the cornea
Glaucoma: unusually high pressure inside the eye, caused by a problem in the draining of the eyes' fluids
Uveitis: inflammation of the iris and blood vessels of the eyes

Discerning Which Treatment Is Appropriate

There are multiple reasons why a cat's eye will have discharge. The cat's eyes are susceptible to infections from bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites. It is also in danger of being damaged by foreign bodies. An object could be irritating a cat's eye, which could cause discharge, or a cat's eye could be subject to trauma. The eye can easily be damaged when cat's are engaged in a fight with another cat, or animal.

So, how do you tell what is causing the discharge in your cat's eye? Each situation that was described will have it's own symptoms that accompany the discharge, and distinct physical appearances.

Treatment for Infections

Depending on what is infecting a cat, it is sometimes impossible to eliminate the cause. The only option is to remove or alleviate symptoms. There are liquid eye washes and medicines (such as antibiotics) that can be applied directly to the eyes. Ointments are also available, but are usually more difficult to apply. Ointments tend to irritate the eyes more, but generally have to be applied less often than the drops. Pills or injections are sometimes available for certain diseases, and are required for the more persistent/difficult cases. The pills could consist of antibiotics to treat secondary infections, or anti-flammatory medication, such as aspirin. Pain medication can also be prescribed, as some of these diseases can cause a lot of pain to your cat.

Treatment for Serious Cases

While every disease of the eye has potential to permanently damage the eye, certain disease have more potential to do so. Glaucoma, corneal ulcers and uveitis can cause serious damage to the eyes, and may call for surgery of the eyes. The surgery can be as simple as removing/fixing the cause of the problem, to removing the entire eye.

Natural Treatments

Although none of these treatments will target the direct cause of the eye problems, it is helpful to give your cat's immune system a boost when battling disease. Some natural treatments include:

Vitamins A, C and E: they have antioxidants that fight foreign bodies that can damage the eye
Astragalus root: has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties, by way of boosting the immune system
Zinc: linked to good vision and can protect eye tissue from damaging light and inflammation

also see Diagnosing Feline Eye Problems

also see Is Cat Pink Eye Contagious?

also see Ointments for Cat Eye Infection Treatment

also see Cat Eye Infection Treatment

also see Cat Eye Infections

also see Cat Cataract Surgery

also see Treating a Cat With a Swollen Eye

also see The Basics of Cat Eye Care