cataract?

Gunilla · 08-18-2011, 07:16 AM

Just one quick question. I have dwarf hamster,from lPS (ww/hybr), two day ago her right eye became cloudy in the middle - no swelling, no blood, no other symptoms, behaviour as usual.I assumed it can be cataract due to diabetes and taken all sweet things from her diet, ordered Harry Hamster mix, bought fenugreek, not done tests yet.

Looks like something wrong with pupil itself, not the lens.

It is cloudy only in the evenings, with dim artificial light. In the morning she is her usual self. What is it?

fluffymunchkins · 08-18-2011, 02:35 PM

I don't know much about eye problems, but that does sound strange.
If its not bothering her then I wouldn't worry, could be down to age (how old is she?)
But if you notice it get worse or any other symtoms I would get it checked out x

Letichia · 08-18-2011, 02:59 PM

Hello there

I know a tiny bit about cataracts from a human perspective although am by no means an expert just have studied it recently being a student nurse! If It is cataract then her lens would be cloudy. However cataracts isn't a sudden thing its very gradual and my cocker Mollie has cataracts and over the last couple of years the cloudiness in her lens has increased and now it is much more noticeable. It is also, as far as i am aware, not something that comes and goes and is visible all the time day or night.

Hope your little girl is ok and you manage to get to the bottom of what it is.

Gunilla · 08-19-2011, 02:29 AM

She is not supposed to be old, i bought her 1.5 months ago

Letichia

[/QUOTE] If It is cataract then her lens would be cloudy.[/QUOTE]

Yes, that's what i read, and although i am not a doctor, but thing that clearly constricts and expands doesn't look for me like cataract.

[/QUOTE] However cataracts isn't a sudden thing its very gradual [/QUOTE]

That I didn't know, but suspected.

Also i though that any injury to the eye should be visible any time of the day. for me it looks like one of her pupils reflecting light more than the other or not constricting quickly enough.

Thank you for your response, any further thoughts welcome. Internet research so far doesn't get me anywhere!

Gillzy · 08-19-2011, 02:47 AM

I wasn't aware hamsters had pupils. :/ Sen's eyes look all black to me.

Lil Miss · 08-19-2011, 06:15 AM

I have a hamster with catatacts in day time you barely notice them as the pupil is so small due to the brigjt light however in dim light the pupil is larger and it is much more apparent

However, cataracts do not appear overnight

Gunilla · 08-19-2011, 11:00 AM

Lil Miss
Yes, the same here... so it IS cataract...but why is it connected to pupil , not the lens... anyway - any particular tips how to treat it?

( I was trying to make video of her and her injured eye, but very difficult in the dim light - even when i clearly saw this area in the eye, it's not so clear on video)

Gunilla · 08-19-2011, 11:01 AM

Gillsy. Healthy eyes of healthy hamsters - yes, all black ( or red).

KatiePillow · 08-19-2011, 02:27 PM

My boy with cateracts is red eyed so a lot easier to spot, his 'good' eye (with just a cateract) is bluey, like a film over it, his over eye is bright white because his cateract ruptured =[
Don't know how you'd spot the blue one on black eyes though, so I don't know about it sorry, just posted my experience with them.

Gunilla · 08-19-2011, 03:59 PM

KatiePillow. Thanx for sharing, it helps to listen to all the opinions and experiences. Masha's eye is slightly white, and only in the middle, and only sometimes. After listening to people here i still not sure, what it is.

oh, it's so sad, as far as i can see this cataract thing is pretty often, didn't know before i bought hamster, although i've done some research.