Damaged Eye (most likely NOT a retained eye cap)

[Mr Oni]

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.





(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.)

My hoggie had a similar looking eye a steam box 20 min for 3 days once a day fixed it. ...might help

[Penultimate]

I have more pictures now. If these give anyone else ideas, please tell me.

Bad:



Good:

[DVirginiana]

Will he take pre-killed or frozen/thawed prey? If you're dealing with an impaired snake it might be a good idea to reduce the risk of injury in case he has a hard time seeing or striking properly. Definitely get them to stop putting two mice in there at once; give him one at a time (I got the impression both mice were fed at the same time).

Other than that I don't really have anything useful to say regarding the eye, other than I think a reptile vet would be a good idea.

[Albert Clark]

One of the main diseases is a abcess. It affects the clear covering over the eye and can be a mild inflammation to inflammation involving the tissues of the eyeball. Usually this requires surgery to drain the abcess and flush the area with antibiotics.

[Penultimate]

Will he take pre-killed or frozen/thawed prey? If you're dealing with an impaired snake it might be a good idea to reduce the risk of injury in case he has a hard time seeing or striking properly. Definitely get them to stop putting two mice in there at once; give him one at a time (I got the impression both mice were fed at the same time).

Other than that I don't really have anything useful to say regarding the eye, other than I think a reptile vet would be a good idea.

He has never had frozen/thawed prey. I want to try that, but keeping mice in the freezer might be a health hazard. I mean, it is a school. And yes, he is fed two mice at a time. I'm trying to get that fixed.

I told the teacher that the best thing for him may be a vet visit. She's reluctant because of the cost, but willing to listen, so that's something. If a vet visit were to happen, it would be at least two weeks, though.

[Penultimate]

One of the main diseases is a abcess. It affects the clear covering over the eye and can be a mild inflammation to inflammation involving the tissues of the eyeball. Usually this requires surgery to drain the abcess and flush the area with antibiotics.

Alright, what does that normally look like? What do the other ones you mentioned look like?

[Albert Clark]

Alright, what does that normally look like? What do the other ones you mentioned look like?

Well depending on the extent and depth of the abcess it can certainly affect the internal structures of the eye including but not limited to the lens, cornea and retina. The other causes of eye disease are the viral, bacterial and fungal. They can present like opacities in the eye itself as in the corn snake. He really is suffering and should be examined by a vet to make the differentiation. Oh, and injury is another cause! The school should be able to work out a agreement with the vet. Most schools that house animals have a vet that they have a affiliation with. It shouldn't be a student cost anyway???????Isn't the animal there for educational purposes??

[Penultimate]

Well depending on the extent and depth of the abcess it can certainly affect the internal structures of the eye including but not limited to the lens, cornea and retina. The other causes of eye disease are the viral, bacterial and fungal. They can present like opacities in the eye itself as in the corn snake. He really is suffering and should be examined by a vet to make the differentiation. Oh, and injury is another cause! The school should be able to work out a agreement with the vet. Most schools that house animals have a vet that they have a affiliation with. It shouldn't be a student cost anyway???????Isn't the animal there for educational purposes??

Alright, I'll mention these possibilities to the teacher.

I agree, I'd like to take him to the vet, too. I'm talking to the teacher about it and I think I'm making progress. They don't have a vet, so I'm talking to them about the reptile vet I use. While it shouldn't be a student cost, it may have to be because the classroom budget won't cover it. Either way, he can't go to the vet next week and there's no time this week, so it's going to be a little while even if I have evidence that a vet visit is a good idea.

[JoshSloane]

An abscess isn't a disease, it is a pathology that is secondary to some kind of trauma, infection or exposure. That's definitely a 'dead' eye. In the second set of pictures it looks like there is an inflammatory infiltrate with enhanced reddening and possibly some pus? My bet would be a mouse scratched or bit the eye during feeding and it was never properly tended to. Vet visit would be best if someone is willing to pay for it. Some local reptile rescues might be able to help you find low cost care. Good luck.

[Penultimate]

An abscess isn't a disease, it is a pathology that is secondary to some kind of trauma, infection or exposure. That's definitely a 'dead' eye. In the second set of pictures it looks like there is an inflammatory infiltrate with enhanced reddening and possibly some pus? My bet would be a mouse scratched or bit the eye during feeding and it was never properly tended to. Vet visit would be best if someone is willing to pay for it. Some local reptile rescues might be able to help you find low cost care. Good luck.

I'm not sure I understood much of what you just said. A dead eye? Inflammatory infiltrate? I'm probably just tired, but do you mind explaining? Sorry.