As already stated, this may follow upon ophthalmia, but it is also the result of external injuries, such as a scratch from a thorn, or a scratch produced by fighting with another cat, although the membrana nictatans is fairly well developed in the cat. During distemper, opacity of the cornea sometimes occurs.

Treatment

The cat may be temporally, or permanently, blind - much depending upon the cause, though the degree of blindness varies.

The reparative power of the eye is great, and what looks serious often turns out fairly satisfactory, as nature appears to exert specially recuperative powers in this region.

Four grains of silver nitrate added to one ounce of distilled water makes a very useful eye lotion, particularly suitable for some cases of opacity of the cornea.

The animal should be held by an assistant: the eyelids separated, and a few drops of the lotion dropped into the eye night and morning.

Lead lotion should not be used in the treatment of this diseased condition.