Feline Herpes Eye Infection

Feline herpes eye infection, also referred to as herpes viral conjunctivitis, is a type of condition that can adversely affect the health of your cat's eyes. Conjunctivitis in cats is nearly almost always caused by exposure to the herpes virus. In order to treat feline herpes eye infection, you need to take your pet to the vet.

  1. Symptoms

    • The symptoms of herpes viral conjunctivitis may only appear in one of the eyes. Herpes eye infection will cause the eye of the cat to become inflamed and takes on a reddened appearance. The affected eye may also feel dry and itchy to the cat. There will likely be a reduction in the number of tears produced, and the cornea may have a cloudy appearance. The eyelids will also become affected and appear swollen and red.

    Treatment

    • When you take your cat to the vet, he will likely give you anti-viral eye drops to administer to the animal. Examples of brands include Herplex and Vira-A. The meds are given as often as five times daily during an outbreak. Antibiotics might also be given to prevent a secondary bacterial infection from developing. Following infection, the vet may recommend suppressive medications like lysine and interferon to prevent a recurrence.

    Warning

    • If herpes eye infection is left untreated, it puts the animal at risk of becoming blind. This is more common in kittens infected with the herpes virus. They are more prone to the disease and are especially at risk when exposed to poor living conditions, like cold temperatures and inadequate feedings.

    Considerations

    • Although the cat may become asymptomatic after the initial outbreak, the animal may experience a recurrence of symptoms. Cats are especially more prone to outbreaks of herpes eye infection if they have periods of high stress. There is no cure for the herpes virus that causes the conjunctivitis.

    Risks

    • Luckily, humans are not at risk of contracting the herpes virus if exposed to a cat with the disease. Feline herpes are only contagious to other cats, so it is important that you keep the animal isolated from other cats during an outbreak. There are vaccinations available to protect other cats from contracting the disease.