Veiled Chameleon keeping one eye open during sleep

[LizardLurkin]

I observed something strange about little Spooble the past couple of nights. It seems he sleeps with one eye open. I can't really find much discussion of this behavior anywhere, and I figure the people here have probably seen most things and may have some insight.

The husbandry is much that same as it was on my previous thread.
Some other notes:
-His appetite is healthy, I have been trying to build trust with a single wax worm a day before cup feeding him his gutloaded bugs.
-Yesterday, he did miss the wax worm in the palm of my hand once, but I imagine everyone makes mistakes.
-Near the end of the day, he did hold this eye closed. I'm unsure if he was cleaning it (he was doing blink-like motions with it while it was closed.) I'll be keeping an eye on that behavior.
-I've set my mistking to go for 4-5 minutes both sessions in case he needs extra humidity to clean out his little peeper.
Oh, and it's the same eye that had the keratin plug in it.
I'm just like, Oh poor Spooble with your weird little eye challenges.

His poop is the same; healthy looking... He uses the bathroom maybe every other day (or I'm just awful at finding it some days.)

But I'm sort of going on, now! I'd be glad to hear some thoughts, if this is a worrisome behavior or a weird quirk. I worry a little if he may be losing sight in that eye.

 

[MissSkittles]

Poor sweetie. I have no idea why he would be doing that. Are there any lights on at night? Even like a nightlight? I can’t tell if it’s just the pic or not, but that eye does look a little off to me. Refresh my memory - how did the plug come out of his eye? Did the vet remove it? If so, how? Was he on antibiotic eye drops? Maybe @kinyonga has some experience or knowledge about this.

 

[LizardLurkin]

Poor sweetie. I have no idea why he would be doing that. Are there any lights on at night? Even like a nightlight? I can’t tell if it’s just the pic or not, but that eye does look a little off to me. Refresh my memory - how did the plug come out of his eye? Did the vet remove it? If so, how? Was he on antibiotic eye drops? Maybe @kinyonga has some experience or knowledge about this.

I applied neomycin ointment to his left eye twice every day for two weeks. The vet flushed the plug out (he wasn't sedated or anything for the process.)
It's completely dark at night in the room he's in, aside from when I check up on him with my phone's flashlight.

He is still holding that eye closed today, too. I will note, this eye usually appeared a bit puffier, but I assumed (hoped) it was the loose saggy skin from the plug.

 

[kinyonga]

When did he have the plug removed.

 

[LizardLurkin]

I believe it was March 27 or 28.

 

[LizardLurkin]

Got a new photo. He was in the middle of eating, so he actually had the eye open. It looks a lot like it did before. I have a vet appointment scheduled for tomorrow, wondering if there's any suggestions of what I can bring up as a possible cause for her to consider. My thoughts are "maybe it was an abscess and flushing out what was there was only a temporary solution?"

 

[LizardLurkin]

I applied neomycin ointment to his left eye twice every day for two weeks. The vet flushed the plug out (he wasn't sedated or anything for the process.)
It's completely dark at night in the room he's in, aside from when I check up on him with my phone's flashlight.

He is still holding that eye closed today, too. I will note, this eye usually appeared a bit puffier, but I assumed (hoped) it was the loose saggy skin from the plug.

Okay, so all lights in the room are off at 8pm, however, as I'm in Alaska, the sun doesn't completely set currently until 12am. The sky is dark blue. This is just how it is in the spring and summer months. Puffyness and eye closedness aside, it's probably not a bad idea to look for something I can block out the light from the room's window during the night hours. Maybe it would at least encourage him to sleep with both eyes closed While the vet helps me figure out the rest.

 

[LizardLurkin]

Apologies for replying to my own thread so often, I just figure maybe someday someone else observes the same issues and maybe I'll say something enlightening:
The vet flushed his eye again today. She noted that his left eye has extra skin folds, and that the little eyehole seems smaller on that side (I'm paraphrasing) and that this might make him predisposed to these buildups because there's more room for stuff to get stuck but not a lot of room for it to get flushed out. She recommended applying a warm compress to his eye every three days.
I brought up vitamin A deficiency as I know that is often the root of eye problems, and I told her that Spooble's only had two doses of reptivite as he's been in my care a little over a month.
To this, she also suggested giving him the multivitamin once every week for a while.
I am a little anxious because every suggestion online is to use the multivitamin twice a month, but I do wonder if he's in Vitamin Debt or something. I'd be happy to hear some extra thoughts!

She again mentioned that it may be a deformity from previous vitamin deficiencies, but we're both hoping that, as he grows, he fills out those eye folds a little better and the issue with his eye clears up.
He has a good appetite, his mouth looks great, bones and stomach felt good/normal. All the typical check-up things seem well.

 

[GrannyK]

I have no advice but I am following (lurking) lol. If nothing you will have a time line of events and possibly help others by keeping this thread updated. Sorry you are going through this with your little guy.

 

[LizardLurkin]

I appreciate the input, I'll keep this thread updated and see if we can all learn something. I'll try to be concise!
Even if he's having a lot of trouble, I really enjoy getting to know the little guy and want to do what I can to get him over the hurdle. He's such a timid little guy, and the worst thing about it all is that I have to annoy him in my hopes to help him out