Page 1217 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

59 – THE CAT WITH OCULAR DISCHARGE OR CHANGED CONJUNCTIVAL APPEARANCE 1209

● Allergic conjunctivitis* (p 1222)
A serous ocular discharge with very little inflammation of the conjunctiva is seen in cats with
allergic disorders. May be associated with atopy, food allergy or insect bites.
Trauma:
● Trauma of conjunctival and peri-adnexial tissue** (p 1220)
Conjunctival wounds from trauma, plant thorns and cat fights may result in conjunctival tears,
chemosis, hyperemia, hemorrhage and mucopurulent discharges.

● Sub-conjunctival hemorrhage* (p 1223)
Blunt trauma may result in focal or diffuse subconjunctival hemorrhage, with no associated
inflammation or discharge. Retrobulbar trauma may result in exophthalmos with swollen conjunc-
tiva. There may be superficial hemorrhage on the conjunctiva, or subconjunctival hemorrhage.
WHERE?

EYELID
ANOMALY
● Eyelid agenesis (coloboma) (p 1227)
Usually the upper lateral eyelid margin is missing (abnormal) causing exposure of the con-
junctiva and trichiasis (normal eyelid hair rubbing on the cornea). This results in chronic con-
junctivitis, keratitis and chronic serous or mucoud discharge.
MECHANICAL
● Lower lid entropion (p 1228)
Rare in cats but seen in cases with enophthalmos (globe shrunken into the orbit), which causes
the lower lid to turn inwards. The trichiasis that results may cause a chronic mucopurulent dis-
charge and corneal ulceration. Surgical correction can be frustrating.
● Symblepharon occluding the lower nasolacrimal puncta (p 1213)
Seen as a tearing down the medial canthus and nose. Tear staining is present. Check to see if the
lower puncta is present and patent. Conjunctiva appears abnormally thickened and distorted. The
cornea may appear cloudy and covered by a thin membrane. There is a history of cat flu as a kitten.

NEOPLASTIC
● Squamous cell carcinoma*** (p 1217)
Common in white cats and cats with non-pigmented eyelids. The area is red and ulcerated.

● Meibomian gland adenocarcinoma (p 1229)
Rare in cats. The eyelid margin has a raised rough area often in the form of a papilla. The conjunc-
tival surface will be swollen and discolored over the area of the meibomian gland in the tarsal plate.
INFLAMMATION/INFECTIOUS:
● Meibomian gland inflammation** (p 1225)
The cat presents with a history of irritated eyes, and a mucoid to mucopurulent discharge. Under
the eyelid is a row of red inflamed meibomian glands. Inspissated pus and lipid material can accu-
mulate in the glands, and is seen as raised whitish lesions. The condition can cause a lot of dis-
comfort, seen as blepharospasm and rubbing.

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