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Detached Retinas...plus cataracts..



 
 
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  #1  
Old April 10th 05, 10:48 PM
St. Louis Cat Woman via CatKB.com
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Detached Retinas...plus cataracts..

Hi,

I recently adopted a 10 year old blind cat from the shelter..Just felt so
bad for the poor thing. I live in a quiet apartment, no kids or other pets
(well, a hermit crab). I'm a senior citizen, so I do not want a kitten that
will live for 20 years! Now it's just us two old ladies.

She has detached retinas on both eyes. - they don't know how long she's had
them, she was found in a yard. But she's very docile and cuddly - not feral
at all. She also has cataracts on both eyes.

Funny thing is that her irises get larger and smaller with the light - just
like she can see. Also, a friend was over and took a flash picture of me
holding her..And my friend said she did a long squint after the flash! Like
the way people see "stars" after a flash.

I took a flash photo and she did the same thing..We stopped at that, though
- didn't want to hurt/frighten her if she could see something. But she does
not follow objects/fingers with her eyes..and she bumps into things..

Is it possible that she can see something? A glow? Shadows? What is her
vision after detached retinas. I've read that they can sometimes re-
attach...

Would it be possible for a vet to reverse the condition in at least one
eye...operate on one detached retina (don't know exactly what that means...)
and cataract?

She gets around the apartment just great - even sits on the window sill
"looking" outside..Just wanted to see if there's hope - thinking of
"lending" her to a doctor's institute that trains eye surgeons!

thanks for help/advice

--
Message posted via http://www.catkb.com
  #2  
Old April 10th 05, 10:58 PM
Mary
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"St. Louis Cat Woman via CatKB.com" wrote in
message ...
Hi,

I recently adopted a 10 year old blind cat from the shelter..Just felt so
bad for the poor thing. I live in a quiet apartment, no kids or other pets
(well, a hermit crab). I'm a senior citizen, so I do not want a kitten

that
will live for 20 years! Now it's just us two old ladies.



Bless you.


She has detached retinas on both eyes. - they don't know how long she's

had
them, she was found in a yard. But she's very docile and cuddly - not

feral
at all. She also has cataracts on both eyes.

Funny thing is that her irises get larger and smaller with the light -

just
like she can see. Also, a friend was over and took a flash picture of me
holding her..And my friend said she did a long squint after the flash!

Like
the way people see "stars" after a flash.

I took a flash photo and she did the same thing..We stopped at that,

though
- didn't want to hurt/frighten her if she could see something. But she

does
not follow objects/fingers with her eyes..and she bumps into things..

Is it possible that she can see something? A glow? Shadows? What is her
vision after detached retinas. I've read that they can sometimes re-
attach...

Would it be possible for a vet to reverse the condition in at least one
eye...operate on one detached retina (don't know exactly what that

means...)
and cataract?


I suggest you post this to alt.med.veterinary since we do not
appear to have vets posting here at this time.


  #3  
Old April 10th 05, 11:03 PM
Karen
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

in article , St. Louis Cat Woman
via CatKB.com at
wrote on 4/10/05 4:48 PM:

Hi,

I recently adopted a 10 year old blind cat from the shelter..Just felt so
bad for the poor thing. I live in a quiet apartment, no kids or other pets
(well, a hermit crab). I'm a senior citizen, so I do not want a kitten that
will live for 20 years! Now it's just us two old ladies.

She has detached retinas on both eyes. - they don't know how long she's had
them, she was found in a yard. But she's very docile and cuddly - not feral
at all. She also has cataracts on both eyes.

Funny thing is that her irises get larger and smaller with the light - just
like she can see. Also, a friend was over and took a flash picture of me
holding her..And my friend said she did a long squint after the flash! Like
the way people see "stars" after a flash.

I took a flash photo and she did the same thing..We stopped at that, though
- didn't want to hurt/frighten her if she could see something. But she does
not follow objects/fingers with her eyes..and she bumps into things..

Is it possible that she can see something? A glow? Shadows? What is her
vision after detached retinas. I've read that they can sometimes re-
attach...

Would it be possible for a vet to reverse the condition in at least one
eye...operate on one detached retina (don't know exactly what that means...)
and cataract?

She gets around the apartment just great - even sits on the window sill
"looking" outside..Just wanted to see if there's hope - thinking of
"lending" her to a doctor's institute that trains eye surgeons!

thanks for help/advice


Where do you live? I wonder if you have a veterinary opthamologist near who
could take a look and maybe give you some suggestions. I'm a little
concerned as detached retinas often occur from high blood pressure, which
*can* be controlled. A shelter might not have had access to veterinary care
that had BP monitoring. Did they say anything about that?

  #4  
Old April 10th 05, 11:44 PM
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

She has detached retinas on both eyes. -
they don't know how long she's had them,
she was found in a yard. But she's very
docile and cuddly - not feral at all. She
also has cataracts on both eyes.
Funny thing is that her irises get larger
and smaller with the light - just like she
can see.


Did the shelter say why they thought the retina's were detached? If they
were I would expect that the pupils would be fixed and dilated. The most
common cause of retinal detachment is high blood pressure, which if left
untreated will kilI, and my guess is that the shelter doesn't have the
equipment to monitor blood pressure. High BP, or hypertension, can also
be related to chronic renal failure (a treatable condition) so I think
your best bet is to get your cat in for a full blood workup and blood
pressure check ASAP. This is especially important since this is
obviously an older cat with an unknown origin. When at the vet they will
be able to get a good look at the eyes and see what's going on.

Please keep in mind that a lot of vets still don't have blood pressure
monitors, so it is important to find a vet that does. Depending on what
the outcome is, the vet may be able to handle the eye issue as well,
although if you have a veterinary opthamologist in your area that would
be ideal. Regardless, the first and most important thing is to get the
testing done so you know where your cat is at healthwise, find out if
there are any underlying issues, and have a baseline to work from.

Megan



"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do
nothing."

-Edmund Burke

Learn The TRUTH About Declawing
http://www.stopdeclaw.com

Zuzu's Cats Photo Album:
http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22

"Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one
elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and
splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then
providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and
material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his
way."

- W.H. Murray


  #5  
Old April 11th 05, 12:05 AM
St. Louis Cat Woman via CatKB.com
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Oh! I should have added - she does have high blood pressure and I give her
medication for that daily. They just don't know when the high blood
pressure detached her retinas since that's how she was found. I live in St.
Louis ("St. Louis Cat Woman). Real name is Anna!

--
Message posted via http://www.catkb.com
  #6  
Old April 11th 05, 12:08 AM
Cathy Friedmann
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"St. Louis Cat Woman via CatKB.com" wrote in
message ...
Hi,

I recently adopted a 10 year old blind cat from the shelter..Just felt so
bad for the poor thing. I live in a quiet apartment, no kids or other pets
(well, a hermit crab). I'm a senior citizen, so I do not want a kitten

that
will live for 20 years! Now it's just us two old ladies.

She has detached retinas on both eyes. - they don't know how long she's

had
them, she was found in a yard. But she's very docile and cuddly - not

feral
at all. She also has cataracts on both eyes.


I don't know the answers to your various questions (below), although I have
heard of retinas reattaching if they haven't been detached for too long,
when treated promptly enough.

However, I *would* ask the vet about getting her blood pressure checked,
since hypertension/ high blood pressure is one reason for retinal
detachment. If it turns out that she has high blood pressure, she can be
treated w/ medication to lower it, just as people can. Not all vets are yet
equipped & trained to do cats' blood pressure readings. If your vet can't
do the reading, s/he could probably recommend the nearest vet, to get it
done.

Cathy


Funny thing is that her irises get larger and smaller with the light -

just
like she can see. Also, a friend was over and took a flash picture of me
holding her..And my friend said she did a long squint after the flash!

Like
the way people see "stars" after a flash.

I took a flash photo and she did the same thing..We stopped at that,

though
- didn't want to hurt/frighten her if she could see something. But she

does
not follow objects/fingers with her eyes..and she bumps into things..

Is it possible that she can see something? A glow? Shadows? What is her
vision after detached retinas. I've read that they can sometimes re-
attach...

Would it be possible for a vet to reverse the condition in at least one
eye...operate on one detached retina (don't know exactly what that

means...)
and cataract?

She gets around the apartment just great - even sits on the window sill
"looking" outside..Just wanted to see if there's hope - thinking of
"lending" her to a doctor's institute that trains eye surgeons!

thanks for help/advice

--
Message posted via http://www.catkb.com



  #7  
Old April 11th 05, 12:10 AM
Cathy Friedmann
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"St. Louis Cat Woman via CatKB.com" wrote in message
...
Oh! I should have added - she does have high blood pressure and I give her
medication for that daily. They just don't know when the high blood
pressure detached her retinas since that's how she was found.


Ah, okay - good; that's already been taken care of then.

Cathy



I live in St.
Louis ("St. Louis Cat Woman). Real name is Anna!

--
Message posted via http://www.catkb.com



  #8  
Old April 11th 05, 12:16 AM
-L.
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


St. Louis Cat Woman via CatKB.com wrote:
Oh! I should have added - she does have high blood pressure and I

give her
medication for that daily. They just don't know when the high blood
pressure detached her retinas since that's how she was found. I live

in St.
Louis ("St. Louis Cat Woman). Real name is Anna!

--
Message posted via http://www.catkb.com


I don't know how long you said you have had her but whether or not her
retinas can be reattached has a lot to do with how long the detachment
occurred. After detachment, the rods and cones start to die and are
non-functional as well. It might eb wise to do a search to see if
there is a feline opthamologist in your area. From what I know of
people with retina problems many still see light and dark to some
extent, even if the retina is detached, as long as the optic nerve is
intact.

Bless you for taking in this kitty; it sounds like she got a wonderful
home.

-L.

  #9  
Old April 11th 05, 12:31 AM
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Oh! I should have added - she does have
high blood pressure and I give her
medication for that daily. They just don't
know when the high blood pressure
detached her retinas since that's how she
was found.


The most likely scenario here is that her retinas detached at about the
same time she was found and the ondition was diagnosed. If caught
*quickly*, retinal detachment cause by hypertension can often be
reversed if the cat is put on medication quickly. It sounds like that is
what has happened and it's a good thing!

Megan



"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do
nothing."

-Edmund Burke

Learn The TRUTH About Declawing
http://www.stopdeclaw.com

Zuzu's Cats Photo Album:
http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22

"Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one
elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and
splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then
providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision,
raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and
material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his
way."

- W.H. Murray


  #10  
Old April 11th 05, 04:10 AM
St. Louis Cat Woman via CatKB.com
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

She was found last September - and just sat at the shelter till this past
week...everyone was turned off by the fact she was blind. She has been on
high blood pressure medication since September.

How long her retinas were detached is anyone's guess...could be weeks..or
years.

1. How long does it take for rods/cones to die?
2. Can retinas just be partially detached?

--
Message posted via http://www.catkb.com
 




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