Page 1199 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

58. The cat with a red coloration

of the globe

Richard IE Smith

KEY SIGNS
● Hemorrhage in any part of the eye.
● Engorged scleral vessels.
● Erythema of conjunctiva.
● Red appearance through pupil.

MECHANISM?
● In this chapter, the globe refers to the eyeball, and does not include the supporting structures
such as eyelids, third eyelid and orbital structures.
● The globe appears red on the exterior when the conjunctival vessels are inflamed, or the scleral
vessels are engorged, or there is diffuse conjunctival hemorrhage.
● The interior of the globe appears red due to hemorrhage in the anterior chamber, vitreous or
retina.
● In animals with color-diluted genes, the fundus (that part of the retina that can be examined
through the pupil) may have a red reflection from the so-called “tigroid retina”.

WHERE?
● Conjunctiva, choroid.
● Iris.
● Anterior chamber.
● Vitreous.
● Retina.
WHAT?
● Trauma is a common cause of a red globe and this involves hemorrhage in the conjunctiva,
sclera, anterior chamber (hyphema) or vitreous.
● Inflammation of the iris and ciliary body (anterior uveitis) may cause hyphema.
● Retinal hemorrhage from trauma, inflammation or hypertension may cause hemorrhage in the
vitreous.

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