Animal Eye Associates

09/02/2026

👁️ Skippy’s Eye Exam

When 6 year old Skippy came to us for difficulty seeing at night, we had a feeling…

Both of Skippy’s eyes are open and comfortable. His retinal changes are consistent with Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), a degenerative condition that causes the retina to gradually lose function.

The retina contains rods, which are responsible for vision in dim light and at night, and cones, which provide daytime and color vision. With PRA, the rods typically degenerate first, causing night blindness, followed by cone degeneration and progressive loss of vision. 

Because of Skippy’s age, a hereditary/genetic cause is suspected. His difficulty seeing in dim or dark environments (nyctalopia) is consistent with these retinal changes.

🔬 What to expect:
There is currently no treatment to stop or reverse PRA. Unfortunately, vision loss typically progresses over time and may eventually result in complete blindness.

🧬 PRA can also lead to secondary changes, such as cataract formation. However, cataract surgery would not restore vision in a patient with significant PRA.

💊 Treatment:
No topical eye medications are needed at this time. Antioxidant supplementation is sometimes recommended, but there is currently limited evidence that it slows PRA progression.

Despite his retinal disease, Skippy’s eyes are currently comfortable and free of inflammation.

08/27/2026

👁️ What is that worm-like strand in Tyson’s eye?

That interesting structure is a persistent pupillary membrane (PPM): a congenital remnant of a blood vessel network that develops in the eye before birth.

Tyson has an iris-to-iris PPM in both eyes, although the one in his left eye is much more noticeable. Interestingly, the left PPM changes appearance with pupil size:

🔹 Dilated pupil (mydriasis): appears more linear

🔹 Constricted pupil (miosis): takes on a more worm-like or vermiform appearance

When PPMs are limited to a small number of strands and remain attached iris-to-iris, they typically do not affect vision or ocular comfort, and treatment is generally unnecessary.

PPMs are suspected to have a hereditary component in some breeds, so their presence may be worth considering when making breeding decisions.

Bottom line: Tyson’s PPMs are a fascinating congenital finding, but in his case, they require no treatment.

08/25/2026

08/12/2026

🐱 Eye spy something unusual… 👀

If you’ve noticed a pink, white, or slightly raised area developing on the surface of your cat’s eye, you may be looking at eosinophilic keratoconjunctivitis, or EK. EK is an inflammatory eye condition seen most commonly in cats that affects the cornea and conjunctiva. It is often recognized by the development of raised, pink-to-white plaques on the surface of the eye.

EK occurs when certain inflammatory cells, called eosinophils, build up in the tissues on the surface of the eye. Feline herpesvirus may play a role in some cats, although we do not fully understand why this condition develops.

To diagnose EK, we gently collect a small sample of cells from the surface of the eye and examine them under a microscope. This helps confirm the diagnosis and rule out other eye conditions that may look similar.

Treatment focuses on reducing inflammation and keeping the eye comfortable. Many cats respond very well to treatment, but some may require long-term therapy and monitoring because the condition can recur.

If you notice redness, squinting, discharge, cloudiness, or an unusual plaque on your cat’s eye, an ophthalmic examination can help determine the underlying cause and protect their vision. 👁️🐾

08/06/2026

Sometimes you just need an emotional support squirrel...and sibling. 👍🏼❤️

07/30/2026

Otto