Cherry eye in cats

Cherry eye is a rare eye condition in cats. It appears as a smooth pink or red swelling in the inside corner of the eye. When cherry eye happens in cats, it’s most likely in Burmese or Persian cats.

Cherry eye often looks worse than it is. The swelling is a tear gland that’s popped out in the wrong place. Cherry eye isn’t painful but the swollen gland can get irritated and inflamed if untreated. It may come and go, to begin with, but usually needs surgery. A short operation can return the gland to the right place and secure it there.

Overview

What is cherry eye in cats?

Cats have three eyelids, unlike humans, who have only two. The third eyelid is hidden in the corner of the eye. It’s almost invisible when your cat’s eye is open. When your cat blinks, the third eyelid moves over the eye and spreads tears across it. This helps keep the clear part of the eye (the cornea) moist, and helps to remove dust and other small irritants.The third eyelid also has a gland that produces tears.

But the attachment of the gland to the third eyelid is very loose. Cherry eye happens when the third eyelid tear gland pops out from the underside of the third eyelid.

The misplaced (prolapsed) gland appears as a pink swelling
The cherry eye may come and go at first, but usually needs treatment eventually
Over time, the exposed gland gets swollen and irritated
Rubbing causes more irritation and damage
Infection becomes a risk
The eye may become dry if the gland can’t produce tears any more.

Symptoms

Symptoms of cherry eye in cats

Cherry eye is easy to spot when it happens.You can see the prolapsed gland as a lump. It can look like a small cherry in the corner of the eye. That’s how it gets its name.

Cherry eye appears suddenly as a red lump in the corner of one or both eyes
It may not bother your cat at first
Over a few days your cat starts to paw or rub at the eye
Inflammation and infection make the swelling redder and bigger
Greenish or yellow discharge happens when infection develops

Risk

Are some cats more at risk of getting cherry eye?

Cherry eye is uncommon in cats. It’s most likely to happen in shorter-faced breeds with ‘larger’, more protruding eyes. This includes Burmese and Persian cats.

Are my family or other pets at risk of cherry eye?

Cherry eye isn’t infectious. It won’t spread between animals or from animals to humans
Other pets belonging to a susceptible breed may also get cherry eye

Diagnosis

How do vets diagnose cherry eye in cats?

Vets can diagnose cherry eye by its distinctive appearance.

They may also carry out some additional tests to check for:

Dry eye: resulting from damage to the prolapsed tear gland.

The Schirmer tear test is a simple test to check tear production: placing a special indicator paper on the eye surface.

Scratches or ulcers on the cornea (the clear ‘window’ surface of the eye): resulting from rubbing or pawing an uncomfortable eye

Fluorescein dye test: a drop of safe dye instilled in the eye. Ulcers or scratches show up bright green when they pick up the special dye. This test also shows whether tears can flow from the eye through a channel to the back of the nose, the tear duct. If the channel is open, green dye appears at the nostrils.

Vet treatment

How do vets treat cherry eye in cats?

Treatment for cherry eye is surgical. It means small operation:

Returning the gland to its proper position
Creating a small pocket in the third eyelid to tuck the gland in safely
Securing the gland in its pocket with dissolvable stitches

The cost for surgery in the UK will vary depending on the practice, location and any complications affecting surgery. It’s likely to be hundreds of pounds per eye, including daycare, general anaesthetic for the operation and the operation itself.

Sometimes it’s possible to massage the tear gland back into position if this is done soon after it pops out and before it gets dry or swollen. However, recurrence is so common that this is not offered as an effective treatment option.

Home treatment

Homecare for cats with cherry eye

There are no home remedies or cures for cherry eye.

Until your cat has the operation, and during recovery:

Keep the eye surface clean
Gently bathe twice daily with cooled boiled water and a clean cotton pad
Keep the eye moist: apply an eye lubricating ointment or gel 1-4 times per day to help prevent damage (for example, Viskyal, Lubrithal, Lacrilube)
Use a cone collar to prevent damage from scratching or rubbing.
Keep indoors, especially in dusty or windy conditions.

Prevention

Can cherry eye be prevented?

We can’t prevent cherry eye. It’s likely to be a risk from birth in certain breeds.

Ideally, avoid breeding from cats with cherry eye.

When to worry

When to worry about cherry eye

Cherry eye is not itself painful or dangerous. However, if untreated, complications can be serious. Complications happen because of infection, severe inflammation or dry eye.

Call a vet as soon as possible if your cat is: