Hello! I know this question has been asked a million times on this forum, but I wanted to ask for myself with the specifics of my situation. My Ball python isn't quite an adult, however I am unsure of the age as I didn't get him from a breeder (in fact I'm not even sure of the gender). So Jake, my assumed male snake, has always been a great eater since I got him, even though he seemed a bit under weight when I got him. He was small enough that I fed him a mouse every week, and eventually I've taken him to small/med rats about every 10-14 days. He didn't take this change in food harshly, in fact he surprised me by attacking the rat as soon as I placed it in his encloser. I have also always fed him in his tank. I began to notice that he was starting to our grow his tank and hide, so I replaced his hide with the best thing I could find-A smallish card board box. I am unable to buy him a new tank at this time, but he isn't all TOO big for it yet though. The tank I have has a lot of trouble with humidity, and I usually have to mist it multiple times a day. The substrate is the coconut shaving stuff that has the consistency of dirt-Eco Earth Reptile Substrate I think. He also has problems shedding, and especially has problems with his eyes. One eye, recently, has a blue cloudiness to it(different from pre-shed), and it looks like he scraped it on something hard-what I'm not sure of. He has shown signs of not being able to see clearly; and his eye coverings are always wrinkled even at correct humidity. I'm assuming it was something to do with his original owners, since I got him like this and underweight.
However through all of this (and two moves) he has never once deterred from eating. I watch to make sure that feeders don't harm him, especially since he cannot seem to see them very well. However, this feeding time he seems almost intimidated by the rat, and strays away from it. At first I figured this rat was particularly too big, and I got him a smaller one instead. He is giving the same reaction. I have waited a few days, and introduced the rat again today. This time he does not even go into attack or defense mode; he just sits there and lets it run around that tank.
I'm wondering if it is the first rat that perhaps scared him, since it did run up to his face and made him rear back before I took it out. I know I wrote a figgin book about my snake, but I just wanted to cover all possible bases so maybe one of you can point out what I'm doing wrong, or what might be up. Also, how long should I wait to feed him again; and what strategies can I use? I've had a baby garder that refused to eat, but I obviously cannot use the same techniques since she was on frozen food.

ps I know I need to take him to a vet for his eyes; unfortunately where I live there really is no herp vets any where close, and I don't have the money to take him to one yet. It is planned however.