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If your cat suffers an injury that results in eye displacement, you'll need to contact your veterinarian immediately. The quicker you get your cat to the doctor, the better its chances are of retaining its vision.
Eye displacement, or proptosis, is a condition that results in the protrusion of a cat's eye from its eye socket. This condition can cause the eyelid to get stuck behind the eye and puts the cat at risk of losing its sight. Trauma to the cat's face or head is commonly the reason behind the eye displacement.
Eye Displacement Average Cost
From 408 quotes ranging from $200 - $800
Average Cost
$400
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Although the most obvious symptom of eye displacement is the protruding of the cat's eye from its socket, there are a few additional symptoms that are less pronounced.
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The cause of eye displacement is typically some type of trauma or injury to the face or head, such as from a significant fall, being struck by a vehicle, or fighting with other animals. Rarely, eye displacement may be caused by tumors or infection.
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Your veterinarian will be able to diagnose your cat with eye displacement after a thorough examination. Although the protruding of the eye from its socket will be evident, only the veterinarian will be able to determine the extent of the condition.
In addition to an examination of the affected eye, the veterinarian will also perform an x-ray. This determines if there are any injuries to the facial bones or skull that will also need to be addressed.
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As soon as your cat is brought in for treatment, you can expect a lubricant to be placed on the cat's affected eye, as well as a few antibiotic drops to prevent infection. Additional treatment is determined by the severity of the eye displacement.
Surgical Replacement
If your cat is in stable condition and does not have any internal injuries from the trauma it suffered, it will undergo anesthesia so that the eye can be surgically placed back in the socket. First, the veterinarian will clean out the eye socket and then unroll the eyelids. Next, he or she will gently position the eye back in the socket. Finally, the eyelid will be drawn over the eye and temporarily stitched shut. The stitches may be removed as early as seven days following the surgery, or as long as 21 days after.
Surgical Removal
When a cat's eye is severely damaged, it is often necessary to completely remove the displaced eye. During surgery, the veterinarian will take out the eye, the surrounding tissue, and the tips of the eyelids. The final step is to sew the eyelids shut. Unlike the replacement surgery, the eyelids are permanently closed and there will be no removal of the sutures at a later date.
Antibiotics and Pain Medications
Whether your cat was able to have its eye repositioned or completely removed, it will need to follow a course of antibiotics to keep infections at bay. Pain will be managed with prescription medications. It is important that you follow all of your veterinarian's directions in regard to care following surgery for eye displacement.
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Follow up appointments are needed after surgery has been completed in order to watch for and prevent possible complications. It is important to keep an eye on swelling and to inform your veterinarian if you notice any discharge from the eye that is yellow or green in color. This indicates a potential infection. Your cat will need to wear an E-collar at home so that it doesn't accidentally scratch the eye before it has had a chance to heal. Once the doctor is able to remove the stitches at your follow up appointment, he or she will be able to determine if the cat has suffered permanent blindness. Total recovery time can be anywhere between two and four weeks.
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Eye Displacement Average Cost
From 408 quotes ranging from $200 - $800
Average Cost
$400
Protect yourself and your pet. Compare top pet insurance plans.
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Ask a Vet
Mimao
Shorthair
12 Years
Moderate severity
1 found helpful
Moderate severity
Has Symptoms
My cat's eyes look like she's wearing coke bottle lenses. The fronts of her eyes appear to have distended fluid filled lumps that affect her vision. Previous treatment the veterinary ophthalmologist performed was to sew her inner eyelid shut for three weeks and have me put sodium chloride 5% in her other eye. I've continues to do this twice a day but now her eyes look worse and I'm concerned she's going blind. She was miserable in that e-collar for three weeks and I'd prefer not putting get through that again. What other treatment options are available? The vet seems to think the fluid buildup is a side effect of the long term prednisalone.
Aug. 3, 2018
Mimao's Owner
Dr. Michele K. DVM
1 Recommendations
Without seeing Mimao, I really don't know what might be going on with her eyes, but that does sound quite dramatic. If the current therapy isn't working, she should have a recheck to have them re-examined and see what might be going on. If you are able to see a specialist, that would be best for her at this point. I hope that all goes well for her.
Aug. 3, 2018
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Tommies
Cat
1year old
Fair severity
0 found helpful
Fair severity
Has Symptoms
Someone dropped a cat off at my house in his eye looks like it's been popped out of head for over 2 weeks and I don't know what to do he's happy cat he eats and everything and he's all lovable is not like he's in any pain
Dec. 5, 2017
Tommies' Owner
0 Recommendations
Proptosis may be caused by a few different things including a retrobulbar abscess, haematoma or another cause; you should keep the eye lubricated with artificial tears if the eye looks like it is drying out. Ideally, you should visit a Veterinarian to determine the cause of the proptosis and to make a plan for treatment depending on the underlying cause. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
Dec. 5, 2017
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Jarro
Shorthaired domestic
7 Years
Fair severity
1 found helpful
Fair severity
Has Symptoms
how much will it cost to treat my 7yr old cat, I noticed that his left eye is slightly larger than the right. I researched and found out that it could be eye displacement. He isn't showing any signs of injury or swelling and is functioning normally, the only thing hat i have noticed is that his left eye is slightly bulging.
July 26, 2017
Jarro's Owner
1 Recommendations
Eye displacement or proptosis in cats is usually caused by trauma; but may also be caused by tumours, infection (abscess) or bleeding (hematoma). The treatment will be dependent on the cause of the displacement and may result in the loss of the eye in severe cases. Medical management with antibiotics would be considerable cheaper than surgery. Surgery costs may vary depending on the underlying cause, your location and whether you visit a Specialist or not; generally you would be looking at a few thousand considering aftercare etc… Speaking with Jarro’s Veterinarian would be able to give an accurate cost. Regards Dr Callum Turner DVM
July 26, 2017
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Baby kitty
mixed
12 Weeks
Serious severity
0 found helpful
Serious severity
Has Symptoms
Our cat was attacked by a dog and while separating the cat the dog bit down and popped the eye &6 eye came out of the socket. We got him to the vet and they decided to completely remove the eye.
Eye Displacement Average Cost
From 408 quotes ranging from $200 - $800
Average Cost
$400
Protect yourself and your pet. Compare top pet insurance plans.
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