So Worried About Milan's Cloudy Eye

[Sian25]

So Milan was diagnosed with cataracts almost a year ago. He also had a little white speckle like a small grain of rice in the corner of his eye. The vet said that it was part of the cataracts. This white speckle grew and I mentioned this to another vet, who also said it was part of the cataract.

Anyway, his eye has gradually gotten worse and worse looking but I have always assumed that it was the cataract developing (I have never dealt with cataracts before). It's only been tonight that I have noticed that something doesn't look right.

Milan has a white ring around one eye and after googling, I've found that it seems to be calcium/ bone formation in the eye. Guinealynx has an article on it but it's very rare so I've not found much information. The condition is called osseous metaplasia. If that's what it is, he is also getting the start of it in his other eye. However, on the pigs of this osseous metaplasia, the inside of the eye isn't cloudy like milan's. Obviously I always assumed this was his cataract but now I'm worried that it's actually an eye injury too that's been untreated for a while. I will be getting an oppointment tomorrow but in the meantime, does anyone have any info or advice?

Here is a pic of his bad eye and the other eye where this white ring is beginning

 

[Sian25]

I forgot to add that he doesn't seem to be in pain with it and is eating/drinking/maintaining weight as normal

 

[Wiebke]

So Milan was diagnosed with cataracts almost a year ago. He also had a little white speckle like a small grain of rice in the corner of his eye. The vet said that it was part of the cataracts. This white speckle grew and I mentioned this to another vet, who also said it was part of the cataract.

Anyway, his eye has gradually gotten worse and worse looking but I have always assumed that it was the cataract developing (I have never dealt with cataracts before). It's only been tonight that I have noticed that something doesn't look right.

Milan has a white ring around one eye and after googling, I've found that it seems to be calcium/ bone formation in the eye. Guinealynx has an article on it but it's very rare so I've not found much information. The condition is called osseous metaplasia. If that's what it is, he is also getting the start of it in his other eye. However, on the pigs of this osseous metaplasia, the inside of the eye isn't cloudy like milan's. Obviously I always assumed this was his cataract but now I'm worried that it's actually an eye injury too that's been untreated for a while. I will be getting an oppointment tomorrow but in the meantime, does anyone have any info or advice?

Here is a pic of his bad eye and the other eye where this white ring is beginning

View attachment 56172

View attachment 56173

Milan has got a cataract and NOT an infection. They develop as small dots that connect and become more and more dense over time. There are two varieties of cataracts: congenital ones come on in young age, typically around 1-2 years old, but they can already be born with them. The much more common variety are old age cataracts, which typically develop from age 4-5 years.

As guinea pigs age, the rim around their eyes is becoming more jagged and blurred. There is not a lot you can do, but I would also not worry about it. It is not quite as uncommon as you think. I have had it in several piggies of mine over the years.

Here is a picture of my 6 year old Maelog, who has the same as Milan only that his cataract is more concentrated and advanced in just one area in the eye and not as dispersed as Milan's. I've had a piggies with cataracts similar to Milan's.
Just keep an eye on it and have it checked by your vet whenever you take Milan for another reason.

Maelog has got pink eyes, and I had to use the flash to get a good picture, hence the colouring:


Here you can see my Taffy and Mali (both RIP) with somewhat more advanced cataracts than Milan's. You can clearly see that Taffy's is ahead of Mali's. Taffy had one of the strongest cataracts that I have ever come across, but is has not kept her from enjoying her life or free roaming on the living floor. Mali did zoomies and explorations until two days before she died aged ca. 8 years - but then she was pretty blind and arthritic, but she could still follow her own scent spoor (or those of other piggies) and derive much fun from it.

 

[Swissgreys]

I have to say if I was in your shes @Sian25 I would have been worried too.
But then @Wiebke posted a brillaint and sensible explanation (with pictures, which I always find super helpful).
What a fantastic resource this Forum is.

 

[Sian25]

Thank you @Wiebke. My issue is that you say as piggies age, the outline of their eye becomes more jagged, but Milan is only just coming up to 3 have you read the article on osseous metaplasia where bone forms in the eye? I think it really looks similar to that.

 

[VickiA]

If you are still worried, @Sian25 then perhaps the best thing to do is to get an opinion from a specialist exotics vet. Sara has just been away on a course at which they discussed all about eye problems (including cataracts) in piggies and she was telling me about it the other week.