cataracts in cats: an overview

Pet Health Article

• Cataracts in Cats: An Overview

A cataract is defined by opacity of the lens on the eye. A cataract reduces the ability of the lens to absorb light and as a result the vision is affected.

Types of Cataracts

Cataracts are not considered to be a very common condition in cats, but when they do occur they are classified according to their cause and age of onset. Congenital cataracts occur in young kittens, juvenile cataracts occur in young cats, and senile cataracts occur in older cats. Cataracts are also classified based on the location of where they appear on the lens, the severity of the cataract, and the cause of the cataract.

Cataracts may occur in one or both eyes, and in some cases they spontaneously resolve on their own. Cataracts may also continue to grow across the lens of the eye, or they may just stay the same. Cataracts are diagnosed through an eye examination, which usually requires dilation of the pupil.

Many pets experience a natural condition called nuclear sclerosis which causes a cloudy appearance on the lens of the eye. Many pet owners confuse this condition with cataracts, but unlike cataracts nuclear sclerosis will not impair a cat’s vision.

Outlook

If cataracts occur in both eyes and become severe, they can lead to complete blindness. Progression of vision loss due to cataracts usually occurs over a long period of time, and many affected cats are able to adjust to the loss of vision without any problem. While cataracts can sometimes be treated through surgery, many cats adjust to complete blindness so perfectly that it is difficult to believe that the cat is blind.