Rat's eye turning white?!

[Kerry]

My rat's eye is turning white, I always thought there wa something wrong with her eyes or that she might be blind but they were checked when she was younger and the vet saw no problems. Does anyone know what this could be? She is acting normal and doesn't seem to be in pain- no scratches by her eye either.

?????

 

[lilspaz68]

Did it start with a small silvery or white disk over her pupil and gradually get bigger?

or does it look like this?

or this?

 

[jorats]

My Captain eye's have turned white also. It happens with age like cataracts.

 

[Kerry]

Lilspaz, It looks exactly like the second picture and pretty much happened over night one day it was normal next time I looked at her it was cloudy white.

Is this worth a $60+ vet appointment?? Or just happens with age?

 

[lilspaz68]

Is she acting distressed or ill or lethargic? If she's normal but maybe a bit slower getting around (she has to adjust to the not-seeing thing) then I would just watch for swelling etc.

 

[Kerry]

Is she acting distressed or ill or lethargic? If she's normal but maybe a bit slower getting around (she has to adjust to the not-seeing thing) then I would just watch for swelling etc.

Thanks! She is acting normal-not even slower than usual, and no swelling.

 

[benzin.fox]

my genevieve's eyes are like this too. it's definitely an age thing they don't look the same anymore

 

[Kerry]

Well took her to the vet tonight and he said she has cataracts and is blind in that eye now.

 

[Joanne]

That's great news! (sort of.....)
At least it's not an infection or tumor. And as she's telling you, no biggie- she's acting normally. She'll get used to it faster than you will!

 

[jorats]

That's right, cataracts in rats is really no big deal. Rats don't really use their sense of sight anyway.

 

[benzin.fox]

It doesn't do much for their looks though, does it? poor genevieve has big cataracts in both her eyes. The vet said she can't see anything anymore- but she is three!

 

[SQ]

Good to hear it isn't anything too serious .... rats have bad eye sight anyway.
Grreat that she is adapting well.

:hugs: to your rattie girls

 

[brandonhsncox93]

First time rat owner my rat's eye cloudy whiteish color there is no swelling no goop or anything coming from his eye he is acting normal though

 

[lilspaz68]

Brandon it's best if you start your own post and post a picture of your rats eye.