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Anterior Uveitis in Cats

The uvea is the dark tissue at the front of the eye that contains the blood vessels. When the uvea becomes inflamed, the condition is referred to as anterior uveitis (the literal translatiobn of which is inflammation of the front of the eye). This very painful condition affects the cat's iris and the surrounding pupil tissue, which in turn, may threaten your cat's vision.

Symptoms and Types

• Pain
• Redness of the eye
• Excessive tears
• Discharge
• Squinting
• Pupil is small or has an uneven shape
• Swelling of the eyeball
• The front of the eye is cloudy or dull
• The color of the iris may be uneven or may be different than normal

Causes

Anterior uveitis may be due to different causes, including:

• Autoimmune diseases
• Tumors
• Cancers
• Trauma or injury
• Metabolic diseases
• Lens protein entering into the eye fluid
• Infections:
  • Parasites
  • Fungi
  • Bacteria
  • Toxoplasmosis (a multi-system disease caused by a parasite)
  • Rickettsia (a parasitic disease found in many ticks, fleas and lice)

In addition, viruses are another cause of anterior uveitis in both animals, however, the viral agents are different for each species. In cats, feline leukemia, feline immunodeficiency, and feline infectious peritonitis viruses all bring on anterior uveitis.

Diagnosis 

Your veterinarian will want a complete medical history and will conduct a physical examination, usually using a special instrument to look at the eye (ophthalmoscope). The front of the inside of the eye, as well as the back part, will be examined to measure the pressure within the eye. The veterinarian will also order a complete blood count and a biochemical profile. This will be used to identify any autoimmune diseases, infectious organisms, or other diseases. Other tests for diagnoses include ultrasounds and X-rays of the eye, as well as an aspirate from the eye for microscopic examination.