flushing an eye

[wyattroa]

Just wondering if someone can tell me how to flush a chameleons eye. My guys has had problems with his left eye since I got him. I have caught him on 2 occasions within the past week were he was basking with his left eye shut. I have misted with warm water and warm showers. But, he is still having the same issue of wanting to rub his eye or move it around in his eye lid.

I do have some medical background as a paramedic and can get saline, I just am not sure how to go about doing this on the cham.
Robert

 

[Dave Weldon]

Howdy Robert,

If he does indeed have debris in his eye, here's one of my posts on the subject: https://www.chameleonforums.com/one-eye-closed-35998/#post332765. If you don't see improvement within a day or two after several rinse sessions then you'll need to see a vet to get the eye checked for a possible infection. Don't discount the possibility that it is something beyond either of these issues .

 

[xanthoman]

not to be blunt, but!

the thread that Dave linked to, has some really excellent information in it. Dave said, " Don't discount the possibility that it is something beyond either of these issues" i think what he meant, was be prepared for the fact, that it could be something potentially worse, than just debris in the eye, its just that he is too diplomatic, and too nice of a guy, to be that blunt. i on the otherhand, lack Dave qualities of patience, and diplomacy, i admittedly, am more of an *******, so, i was just wondering, if you dont mind my asking, what kind of lighting you use & what are your distances and how old is it? also what is your supplementation like ?, just curious. jmo /edit; just so we are clear, cham issues are not always due to debris in the eye, or even bacterial, or fungal infection, but they would of course be good things to rule out. cham eye issues can also be a physical manifestation of supplemental or lighting issues, there are several reptile uvb options still on the market that are potentially harmful, so that was the nature of my question.

 

[wyattroa]

Thanks for the responses. We think it might be something in the eye because of the way the shipping box arrived. The side was torn open and all the styrofoam was crushed and even the lid to the container he was in was crushed and off. So the elements from the trip and the news paper were all able to get into his container. I will look into everything you said. I have only had him for 1 week, he has been eating and his urates look good. I think he might be getting ready for a shed, not sure since I have never had a cham. UVB is reptisun 5.0

 

[xanthoman]

not all reptisun 5.0 are created equal

We think it might be something in the eye because of the way the shipping box arrived. The side was torn open and all the styrofoam was crushed and even the lid to the container he was in was crushed and off. So the elements from the trip and the news paper were all able to get into his container.

you should probably see a vet if it continues, it could very well be due to a corneal scratch, in which case the eye remains injured, after the debris is gone. but a really good tool to have on hand is a really good magnifying glass, you might notice debris, scratches, or cloudiness that you wouldnt otherwise see, also good for inspecting for mites. / is this reptisun 5.0 uvb a cfl? and if so was it manufactured before jan of 09 (of which there are still many on store shelves), and do you have it directly on top of the cage?, also spraying vitamin water or dumping recently dusted feeders from above, can also cause problems, just a thought

 

[wyattroa]

you should probably see a vet if it continues, it could very well be due to a corneal scratch, in which case the eye remains injured, after the debris is gone. but a really good tool to have on hand is a really good magnifying glass, you might notice debri, scratches, or cloudiness that you wouldnt otherwise see, also good for inspecting for mites./ is this reptisun 5.0 uvb a cfl? and if so was it manufactured before jan of 09 (of which there are still many on store shelves), and do you have it directly on top of the cage?, just a thought

It is a reptisun 5.0 tube light not cfl. It sits on the top of the cage. I have talked to the breeder and he is probably going to be sending my some medicine to try and help this guy out. Not sure of when the manufactured date is on the tube though. I just bought it 3 weeks ago.
Robert

 

[xanthoman]

if it is a reptisun tube , it is not at issue, but it still might not be a bad idea to raise it up at least 6" until his eye thing is resolved, you shouldnt just treat an eye without having some idea of what is wrong with it. jmo