My cat's eye has scar tissue from URI. Can it be removed & cost?

Unfortunately, the picture is not clear enough for me to fully see the lesion. However, a diagnosis would require a full ophthalmic exam by a vet, so we would only be able to give educated guesses anyways. Cats with feline herpes virus at a young age can get severe ulcers in the cornea (the outside layer of the eye ball). This, or swelling within the cornea are the common causes of the cloudy appearance. With severe ulcerations, the cornea does not heal perfectly and can have a permanent scar - this could definitely be a reason for the cloudy spot you are describing. However, I would have expected one of the previous vets to have diagnosed this already, so it may be something else. Considering you have been to many veterinarians already and have not received an adequate answer, or potential treatment options (corneal scars can be remedied with minor surgery), I recommend seeking a referral to a veterinary ophthalmologist. They will be able to definitively diagnose the condition and will be the best professional to offer treatment. You can ask your vet about this option and I'm sure they will ensure you get the necessary information and referral. I hope that helps and all is well with Cinder.

Hello. I am sorry to see that John is having issues with his eye. It does appear that the eye is severely compromised, and if the white clear discharge seen is the material from inside his eye then yes, it needs to be removed. You can always see an ophthalmologist for their opinion, however if that discharge is from a ruptured globe there is likely very little they will do aside from remove the eye. If the discharge can be 'wiped away' and a normal eye is underneath (unlikely based on what your vet has said and the picture provided) then it could be saved, however this is unlikely. Good luck with John, and remember, animals with 1 eye do exceptionally well, so don't worry about John only having 1 eye, he will do great!

As long as there is no pain, squinting or discomfort it is probably best left alone, it is likely there is permanent scarring which cannot be removed. Referral to a specialist ophthalmic surgeon could be considered to explore all possible options

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This may be due to the upper respiratory infection or an ulcer for example. Regardless, he is likely going to need eye medications. I recommend you have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Best of luck!

While I can see the lesion you're referring to in the pictures it's difficult to tell where it originates from. It could be a growth coming from the iris or foreign material stuck in the eye. I would recommend catching him for your vet to take a look - it is possible that it's something that could affect his vision. If it's really difficult to take him to the vet you could see if there are any mobile veterinarians in your area that could come to the house, but you would still need to confine him somewhere inside (without many areas to hide) for the visit.

Your vet will need to take a look at your cat's eye to see if the scratch perforated the cornea and involved other structures of the eye. Your vet should also see it to treat it because not treating it can lead to vision loss depending on the severity of the injury. The course of treatment will depend on the severity of the injury and the part of the eye that was injured. If the wound is non-perforating and has no wound edge or opening, an Elizabethan collar will be used to prevent your cat from scratching at its eye, along with antibiotic or atropine eye solutions. Non-perforating wounds that have a mild break in the tissue, or a pinpoint wound perforation, may be treated with a soft contact lens, an Elizabethan collar, and antibiotic or atropine solutions. If the scratch goes deep into the eye and involves other structures in the eye, surgical repair will likely be needed. Your vet is the best person to determine what course of treatment is best.

Thank you for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. A blurry spot can mean that you pet either has a scar on the cornea or it could indicate a corneal ulcer, depending on how this looks. There is also the potential it could be nuclear sclerosis, if it is a deeper opacity that you are seeing. Please submit a photo of the eye in question for clarification on what this likely is, or have your vet do a physical exam to confirm. If it is a corneal ulcer, it needs to be confirmed with an eye test through your veterinarian and then treated with medication. Corneal ulcers however cause excessive blinking and eye discharge. Nuclear sclerosis is common in older cats, and I'm not sure how old your cat is, but they don't require any treatment.. And corneal scars are basically scarring from a previous corneal injury, which typically are permanent and don't require treatment. I wish you the best moving forward with your fur baby. Take care.