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Symptoms
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When the hamster's eye looks cloudy, light blue or turns opaque, it may suffer from cataract disease. Some hamsters may appear clumsy or ill as they adjust to partially obscured vision. Bumping into cage walls or not using ladders and hamster running wheels may indicate early disease. In advanced disease the hamster's eye appears covered in a thin, white film.
Causes
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Age commonly causes hamster cataracts. Health issues, such as diabetes, also cause hamsters to develop cataracts, according to the hamster breeders at Hammysworld, so avoid breeding diseased adult hamsters.
Effects
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Cataracts cause hamsters to lose partial vision and eventually succumb to complete blindness. To compensate for their vision loss, hamsters rely on their increased sense of smell and acute hearing.
Treatments
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Most veterinarians do not surgically remove hamster cataracts. Anesthetizing such small animals risks the pet's life, and costs for the surgery can quickly exceed the hamster owner's budget.
Pet owners should still seek medical treatment for hamsters with discolored eyes, since infections, scars, corneal ulcers, genetic deformities and illness also cause cloudiness in the eye, according to the Pet Web Site.
Coping
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When a pet hamster develops cataracts, avoid making changes to its home or daily routine, according to Hamsterific. Feeding should occur at the same time each day. After cleaning the hamster cage, replace all hiding boxes, toys and food bowls to their original location. To make the pet even more comfortable and reduce anxiety, allow it to smell approaching hands. This reduces the chances of getting bitten.
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Hamster Cataracts
Unfortunately, pets experience many ailments that also affect humans. Although they occur rarely, cataracts cause vision loss in aging and ill pet hamsters, according to the experts at Provet Healthcare. After a diagnosis by a veterinarian, hamsters with cataracts benefit from a strict daily care routine and cautious handling.