Damaged Eye (most likely NOT a retained eye cap)

The school I'm at has an albino corn snake that was given to them when a student moved out of the country. He's at least nine or ten years old, probably more. To my knowledge, the family that had him had kept him for nine or more years. He was kept in less than ideal conditions and still is being kept in a similar way. Basically, he's been living in a very small exo terra (the kind I'd expect to see a tiny arboreal snake or gecko in) with a heat lamp that is not on a thermostat eating two live mice once a month and has had no hides for at least a few months. He did have a fake plant in there, but I removed it because it had wires sticking out of it and was just plain not safe. I promise I'm trying to get him some better care. I put a hide in there for him today (he seemed pretty happy about that) and I'm going to see if I can do something about his cage in general, but things don't happen overnight.

However, there's something I'm a little worried about. The snake's eye appears to be damaged somehow. It almost looks like dust or something, but it doesn't come off. Additionally, the eye seems to be a different shape than it should be. I was not in this school for the beginning of the year so I don't know how long this problem has been going on, but according to the other students, it happened after he last shed his skin. It was at least two or three weeks ago, but I'm guessing four or more based on what I'm hearing. They still have the skin and I looked at it. It appears to me that both eye caps came off. Does anyone know what the problem could be or what I can do? I want to help this snake if I can.

http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...0/img_0238.jpg
http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...0/img_0240.jpg
http://ball-pythons.net/gallery/file...0/img_0239.jpg

(Sorry about the horrible picture quality. Also, I wouldn't normally hold him like this, but he's an active fellow and I needed him to stand still. Don't worry, I didn't hurt him.)

Put it in a warm humid container with moss if it's an eye cap sometimes that can loosen it I've heard. In a small tank with a spot lamp I would anticipate the entire enclosure being much lower than desired humidity. Kudos to you for trying to help. It really should see a vet though.

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Originally Posted by Jhill001

Put it in a warm humid container with moss if it's an eye cap sometimes that can loosen it I've heard. In a small tank with a spot lamp I would anticipate the entire enclosure being much lower than desired humidity. Kudos to you for trying to help. It really should see a vet though.

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So it looks like an eye cap to you? It could be, but based on his last shed, the caps came off fine and the snake shed in one piece so I'm not sure humidity is the issue. I can give it a try, though. No harm in it. I'm going to bring a temperature gun and some digital thermometers in on Monday and see what I get. I'd love to be able to take him to the vet, but the class budget most likely won't cover it.

Oh, I should mention he got out a little while ago (I found him behind the furniture) and was probably out for at least a few days, most likely a week or more. From what I've heard, the problem started before that, though. Not entirely sure because nobody really kept track of when this eye problem started.

Are there any other ideas on what the problem could be?

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Originally Posted by Penultimate

So it looks like an eye cap to you? It could be, but based on his last shed, the caps came off fine and the snake shed in one piece so I'm not sure humidity is the issue. I can give it a try, though. No harm in it. I'm going to bring a temperature gun and some digital thermometers in on Monday and see what I get. I'd love to be able to take him to the vet, but the class budget most likely won't cover it.

Oh, I should mention he got out a little while ago (I found him behind the furniture) and was probably out for at least a few days, most likely a week or more. From what I've heard, the problem started before that, though. Not entirely sure because nobody really kept track of when this eye problem started.

Are there any other ideas on what the problem could be?

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I feel bad about the condition of the snake. It's a good possibility that he is blind in that eye! I mean that is probably worse case scenario , but until it's ruled out its a reasonable consideration. He really does need to go to the vet for this! Maybe everyone can contribute to a special emergency collection to get him the treatment he needs? The eye is a critical body part. Keep us posted. Good luck!

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Originally Posted by Albert Clark

I feel bad about the condition of the snake. It's a good possibility that he is blind in that eye! I mean that is probably worse case scenario , but until it's ruled out its a reasonable consideration. He really does need to go to the vet for this! Maybe everyone can contribute to a special emergency collection to get him the treatment he needs? The eye is a critical body part. Keep us posted. Good luck!

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Yeah, I considered blindness as well. I agree, it's very, very possible. According to the teacher, he displayed some really odd feeding behavior in contrast to what he usually does last time the mice were offered. They offer them both to the snake at once and he normally kills one and then kills the other before eating them. Last time he killed one and then ate immediately, oblivious to the other mouse. Apparently he had some trouble catching and eating the other one and almost didn't seem to notice it. I didn't think much of this before, but I'll have to ask if his eye looked like that when he was last fed. Oh, and he's also much more active than he is right now according to everyone else. So that's a little worrying.

I tried to see if he'd move away from me if I moved my hand on the side of his face with the bad eye, and he did. However, I had to get pretty close and it wasn't a very strong reaction. Then again, when I tried on the other side of his face, he didn't seem to care much either. I didn't have to get quite as close, but he's not at all headshy and may have just been moving away because he could.

I'm going to suggest a vet visit on Monday. There's a reptile vet nearby (actually, there are several), so that's not a problem. I'll see what I can do and hope for the best.

Do you have any ideas on what could've caused this eye damage? Injury, or..? I have basically nothing to go on, so I'll listen to any ideas. I'm thinking that he may have hurt himself on the plant in his cage (wires were sticking out, I got rid of that thing), but I'm not too sure about that. I'll be looking at the cage more closely to see if there's anything else.

EDIT: Just saw the reason at the bottom of your post. What kind of eye diseases are there in snakes to watch out for?

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Originally Posted by Penultimate

Yeah, I considered blindness as well. I agree, it's very, very possible. According to the teacher, he displayed some really odd feeding behavior in contrast to what he usually does last time the mice were offered. They offer them both to the snake at once and he normally kills one and then kills the other before eating them. Last time he killed one and then ate immediately, oblivious to the other mouse. Apparently he had some trouble catching and eating the other one and almost didn't seem to notice it. I didn't think much of this before, but I'll have to ask if his eye looked like that when he was last fed. Oh, and he's also much more active than he is right now according to everyone else. So that's a little worrying.

I tried to see if he'd move away from me if I moved my hand on the side of his face with the bad eye, and he did. However, I had to get pretty close and it wasn't a very strong reaction. Then again, when I tried on the other side of his face, he didn't seem to care much either. I didn't have to get quite as close, but he's not at all headshy and may have just been moving away because he could.

I'm going to suggest a vet visit on Monday. There's a reptile vet nearby (actually, there are several), so that's not a problem. I'll see what I can do and hope for the best.

Do you have any ideas on what could've caused this eye damage? Injury, or..? I have basically nothing to go on, so I'll listen to any ideas. I'm thinking that he may have hurt himself on the plant in his cage (wires were sticking out, I got rid of that thing), but I'm not too sure about that. I'll be looking at the cage more closely to see if there's anything else.

EDIT: Just saw the reason at the bottom of your post. What kind of eye diseases are there in snakes to watch out for?

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Without bring able to lay hands on the animal it's hard to say...and unless you have a real knowledgeable reptile vet, you may find that a dead end.

When a snake damages it's living lens, the eye often scabs or crusts over in a way that looks somewhat like what your snake is showing. The crust is fluid from the unprotected eye hardening over.

However, I can't tell from the photos. Until the snake sheds again, I'd recommend putting him in as sterile environment as possible.

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Originally Posted by Skiploder

Without bring able to lay hands on the animal it's hard to say...and unless you have a real knowledgeable reptile vet, you may find that a dead end.

When a snake damages it's living lens, the eye often scabs or crusts over in a way that looks somewhat like what your snake is showing. The crust is fluid from the unprotected eye hardening over.

However, I can't tell from the photos. Until the snake sheds again, I'd recommend putting him in as sterile environment as possible.

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Ok, so if the problem is what you're describing, it would have to be some kind of injury, right? I'll definitely be giving that cage a good cleaning when I'm back at school on Monday. If the problem is what you think it may be (I understand it's pretty much impossible to say for sure based on pictures), would it heal with the next shed?

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Originally Posted by Penultimate

Ok, so if the problem is what you're describing, it would have to be some kind of injury, right? I'll definitely be giving that cage a good cleaning when I'm back at school on Monday. If the problem is what you think it may be (I understand it's pretty much impossible to say for sure based on pictures), would it heal with the next shed?

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It could be anything that could tear the lens from the eye. I've seen snakes do it trying to remove a difficult shed.

If that's what it is, the substrate should be removed and replaced with paper towels.

I've never seen one successfully healed. I've never seen an animal with a damaged living spectacle not lose the eye. Oftentimes, the next shed can tear the crust off. I've has some success using artificial tears to keep the scab moist when it goes into shed. Once the spectacle lens is removed the cornea becomes extremely susceptible to damage.

If you could get a good, clear close up pic I can get a better idea if it's a damaged lens or something else. If you don't mind, PM me with the pics and I'll respond back via the same route.

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Originally Posted by Skiploder

It could be anything that could tear the lens from the eye. I've seen snakes do it trying to remove a difficult shed.

If that's what it is, the substrate should be removed and replaced with paper towels.

I've never seen one successfully healed. I've never seen an animal with a damaged living spectacle not lose the eye. Oftentimes, the next shed can tear the crust off. I've has some success using artificial tears to keep the scab moist when it goes into shed. Once the spectacle lens is removed the cornea becomes extremely susceptible to damage.

If you could get a good, clear close up pic I can get a better idea if it's a damaged lens or something else. If you don't mind, PM me with the pics and I'll respond back via the same route.

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Ok. I'll replace the substrate when I'm back at school and get some better pictures. I'll PM you once I have them. Should I also get a close up of his healthy eye for comparison?

Just wanted to update. It looks worse today. I haven't taken any pictures yet.