Cloudy Eyed Skink - Diagnosed with Cataracts

[Vengeance]

Hi guys, I know it's been a while since I posted here but I'm seeking some advice regarding one of my skinks.

I noticed recently that Astro has some strange clouding on both of her eyes, reminiscent of cataracts. I'll be calling the Vet on Monday and booking her in for an appointment, her eyes look far from normal to me. Her behaviour has always been quirky, but she doesn't react to people getting close to her anymore, unless I touch her sides. Ninja and Gizmo will turn their heads and look when I open the sliding doors. I'm always cleaning substrate out of her water, but prior to noticing this, I put it down to her being a grub. She hasn't had trouble eating from what I've seen, but she is less shy about it than what Ninja and Gizmo are. She does close her eyes a lot, especially when I'm holding her. She moves around rather clumsily, like she isn't absolutely sure about where she is going... I'm worried.

Advice would be appreciated. Her diet is the same as Gizmo's and Ninja's (currently dog food) and their enclosures have similar setups (hotspot between 32-35°c, cool end between 26-29°c depending on room temperature).

Here is Astro's eyes - she didn't react to the flash.





Here is one of Ninja's eyes - he blinked nearly every time the camera flashed so this was hard to get a picture of.



Here is one of Gizmo's eyes, he blinked a few times, but still blinked unlike Astro.

[DianaBlueTongue]

yikes....that does sound like typical blindness by your description and her unresponsiveness to stimuli. Best of look with the vet visit, hope all goes well :/

[Vengeance]

Well I have an appointment for this Wednesday with a reptile vet, hopefully the he will be able to narrow down the problem. I'll be devastated if it's terminal. The only saving grace is that she's still eating, messily sure, but eating nonetheless. Thank you for the well wishes DianaBlueTongue, I hope the appointment goes well as well.

[Scotts1au]

Are you using a UV light? It has been reported here previously that using a high output UV lamp can cause cataract type symptoms and that the symptoms can improve once the UV source is removed.

edit: just googled this, might be worth asking the Vet about if you are using high intensity UV.
http://www.uvguide.co.uk/phototherapyphosphor-info.htm

[Vengeance]

Thank you for the information Scotts1au! I don't use UV lights with the skinks, although they do get outdoor time a few times a week for around 10-30 minutes.

The bulbs used in their enclosures are the same type, Philips 40w or 60w spotlights (these). However, their light fittings are different. In Astro's enclosure, she does has an Exo Terra Alumium UV Reflector Lamp (one of these), while Gizmo has a ceramic double fitting (this) and Ninja has an Exo Terra Porcelain Clamp Lamp Reflector (this). They have had the same lighting setups since December last year, the cloudy eyes is recent (within the past month - possibly earlier as I only noticed the clouding under certain lighting conditions, I put it down to reflections at first).

I think I might look at changing the dome setup for Astro's enclosure. I didn't think normal spotlights contained UVB so didn't think that the reflector in her enclosure would reflect UV.

Astro's eyes do appear somewhat swollen, and she prefers to keep them closed. There is some weeping, it was something I didn't notice until I looked for it. When I take Gizmo and Ninja out of their enclosures when they've just been sleeping, they are a lot quicker to opening their eyes than what Astro was today. She has spent a lot of time at the cool end of her enclosure lately, other than to bask, where it's in constant shade.

[Vengeance]

Well... there is good news and bad news. She has cataracts in both eyes and there is nothing that can be done to treat them. The good news is that she doesn't appear to be in pain and she is doing everything a normal skink would do. I'm relieved to have a diagnosis, but it's tempered with the knowledge that her sight will only get worse. I'm not happy about the diagnosis (as in, that it can't be treated), but knowing she will still have quality of life is a positive thing.

She has an awesome personality, and her bad eyesight doesn't seem to bother her. On the bright side, she is a special skink and I don't want to interpret this as an overly negative situation, she certainly doesn't let it stop her from exploring. I'm relieved that I was able to get an answer, had this been a treatable condition and I did nothing about it, I'd feel horrible and wouldn't be able to say that I cared about my pets with any confidence.

I'll be keeping my eyes on the other two skinks as well, should they begin to exhibit similar symptoms.

Thank you DianaBlueTongue and Scotts1au, I appreciate your comments.

[DianaBlueTongue]

I had a dog with cataracts that lived to....well, she's still alive Happiest little miniature hotdog you've ever seen, and has had these eyes for years now. She bumps into thing now and then, sometimes overestimates how deep the water and food dishes are (for a very cute messy face after) but her quality of live is still wonderful.

Animals have a funny way of reverting to other senses when one key one fails and I guess people do too. Loss of sight causes the sense of touch and sense of hearing to amplify. So in the sense where she's not in pain and its not something like terminal cancer the cataracts is probably the best possible outcome with how her eyes were looking. Plus having such a caring skink parent helps oodles too.

Maybe have fun making her a "special needs" enclosure now. Stimulating but safer for her condition and I bet she'd make a great service lizard from children with disabilities.

When one door closes others always open. Best of luck with her

[Vengeance]

I guess I was hoping for an all round positive outcome, it's not her fault and I'm only going to cherish her all the more. I've got a habit of being a Negative Nancy at times, and I was projecting my worries onto her. She doesn't seem miserable or anything of the sort, but I sure am acting that part. It's a relief to hear that your dog with cataracts still has quality of life, that is one of my main concerns.

Astro has become rather messy with eating, but only a little bit messier than Ninja and Gizmo. I don't have to wipe their chins though, that's an endearing trait only she has. The vet did tell me that she'd sooner die of old age than blindness, so while it's not the best outcome for her, it's not the worst either. I'll be modifying her enclosure to be friendlier for her, currently there isn't any drops or things she can climb onto and then fall off, but it could do with some more things to burrow under and play with.

It's a good thing blueys aren't sight hunters, I've already mentioned she doesn't have trouble finding food, but she doesn't react quite like Ninja or Gizmo when I bring the food plate into their enclosures. I'll have to take a page from her book and look on the brighter side of life this time around I think. A service lizard, now there's an interesting idea. I've got disabilities of my own and reptiles have enriched my life a lot. They're not quick like dogs (well Ninja is pretty quick), but they've got this level of intelligence and personality you have to see to believe. Whenever I hear someone call them boring a head shake is the first thing I end up doing. I'm not the best with kids but it's something I'll keep in mind.

Thank you very much for your kind words DianaBlueTongue, I very much appreciate the reassurance and support!