Eye Help: infection, blocked lacrimal duct? *up close pics*

[Daybreaker]

Thank you for the input!

slow shed?

When I had him out he didn't see any signs of going into shed; I'm not sure if a snake can even go into blue with one eye milky and one normal?

You won't be able to see a blocked lacrimal duct unless it is severely infected because they are so tiny.

Depending on what is causing the blockage (I don't know if that's what it is but it looks like a very good possibility), you may or may not be able to fix it. If there has been trauma (from substrate, etc), often scar tissue will cause a permanent blockage. If there is infection, antibiotics might help.

It doesn't look infected at the moment, but may become that way. You will need to monitor him closely and watch for that eye to get cloudier and milkier. If it stays clear and he's comfortable, eating, etc, a blocked lacrimal duct can be managed, but in instances where infections and discomfort arise, surgical intervention is sometimes necessary, and the eye can become compromised.

Another cause for this appearance is corneal edema (fluid buildup inside the tissues of the cornea itself), which can result from an injury, ulcer, uveitis (inflammation inside the eye), and rarely autoimmune disease.

Any of these things can cause damage to or compromise an eye. If this doesn't resolve I'd take him to your vet if possible. What would be great would be to find a veterinary ophthalmologist that would see a reptile. That would be the best way to get an accurate diagnosis and treatment options.

Thanks you for the information! Would a warm compress be an idea to see if it helps at all or should I not even mess with that eye and just monitor him?

If it is a blocked duct does the face sometimes swell as well as the eye?

If it is inflammation inside the eye or from an exterior injury (he's on paper towels with a plastic crock water bowl and paper hides, I don't see anything sharp inside his tub) is antibiotics the usual route to take (injectable or eye drops maybe)? What are some medications that are prescribed?