Does anyone have any experience with night blindness?

[MarkB]

As some know, I took Laz to the vet a few weeks ago as he seemed spaced out. He has raised liver enzymes and is on meds to clear any blockages in his gallbladder. We are retesting next week and will do scans/biospy if no improvement. I mentioned that he seems to have lost some of his sight. The vet checked and said his retinas are healthy and there is no haemorrhaging - so any sight problems were neurological and possibly caused by toxins in his brain from his liver. During the day, he isn't too bad and I can move my finger in front of him and he will follow it. At night, it seems he can barely see at all. I have tried adding lights, but it doesn't seem to make any difference. I wonder why no amount of artificial light will help, but in natural daylight he can see? - any ideas?

Although I couldn't find enough bulbs for all of them, as well as the 2 table lamps and a floor lamp we normally have on, we have 11 ceiling lights we don't normally use. I put bulbs in 7 of them and it was uncomfortably bright for me, but his eyes were still dilated and he wasn't responding to movement. He isn't walking into things but I have been careful not to move things. If the vet can't shed any light (no pun) next week, I will ask for a referral to the eye specialist that saw Kylie - although, if it is neurological, I doubt there is much she can do.

[SarahT1 [PLLE]]

Oh Mark, poor Laz, how disorientating for him and distressing for you. I hope someone can share a similar experience to help. I'm thinking of you and your boy.

[meriad]

Mark I have no experience of this so cannot help; but hope someone can offer advice.

Please give your gorgeous boy a fuss from me

[greenkitty]

What a strange situation, I thought light was light whether it be artificial or natural. I hope you manage to get some answers x

[MarkB]

Thanks everyone. A couple of people on FB have given me some info re UV light being more visible to cats. Also someone said that one of her cats had unexplained vision problems that they eventually put down to a pituitary tumour. I hope it isn't the case, but it is the 2nd most common cause on diabetes insipidus, which he also has. At least I can ask the vet questions.

A few people have mentioned blue (UV) light, including someone that has them to help her own sight issues. I am going to try to get some over the weekend - even if it means using old-fashioned incandescent bulbs for the time being.

[HRHFluffy]

Mark I really am sorry to hear that Laz is suffering with this. I've been trying to look up a few things. You've probably seen this link yourself but I thought the test the expert asks the owner to do with the torch is quite useful to see how Laz's pupils react to direct light. The rest of the thread is probably not relevant but it would be something you could report back to the vet when you next talk to him. Sorry I can't be more helpful.

http://www.justanswer.com/pet-cat/3k46k ... dness.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Sorry. Posted it without including the link!!

[MarkB]

Thanks for the link Carol. I checked his eyes with a torch and the vet also checked the structure of his eyes and he said the retinas are healthy & there is no detachment. He also check for any bleeds - again nothing.

Going by the various things I have been reading, it seems to be pointing towards a tumour in his pituitary gland - I really hope not though.

[HRHFluffy]

Oh Mark. I really hope that's not the case too. Poor Laz. He's had so many health issues and has coped remarkably well with each one. Thanks to you!! Please keep us informed and let us know what the vet says next week when you go. Fusses to that wonderful boy.

[Walesgang]

What a worry Mark.

Before reading your post about condition of
Laz's retinas I was going to query whether you were saw he saw at all.

Tip's eyes look 'normal' although her pupils are often larger than most cats. They do react to light. She sometimes even follows tests like moving objects in front of her - probably because she hears/feels slight movement of air.

We were amazed when we were told that she probably sees nothing because 95% of the time you would not know she has any sort of sight problem.

Fingers crossed Laz is ok

[booktigger]

Fingers crossed it isn't a tumour Mark.

[SarahT1 [PLLE]]

Everything crossed here, Mark.

[MarkB]

Thanks everyone

[Crewella]

So sorry to hear this, and no experience of this to add anything helpful, just wanted to send him a fuss. (((hugs)))

[MarkB]

Thanks Helen

I have been out today, but OH said he ate quite well today. He is sound asleep right now, which is hopefully a good sign

The daylight lamps seem to help him see a bit better, although a horrible light for us to sit in! (he's worth it )

I was out with Ria and Sarah (Camdengirl) today and we were looking all over for more daylight bulbs bur couldn't find any - eBay it is!

[MarkB]

Sorry, haven't been on much. I took Laz back to the vet yesterday. His liver enzyme readings are the same as last month. The vet said there are no lumps or bumps and it is probably 'just old age' we are continuing with the Destolit.

It was a diffeent vet this time. He examined Laz's eyes and said there are signs of retinal degeneration and also inflammation in the back part of the eye that reflects light. Laz has been put on 1/4 istin a day and steroids for 10 days (twice a day for 5 days then once a day for another 5) and I need to take him back in 10 days. There does seem to be an improvement in his eyesight already and he seems a lot happier The vet said the improvement in eyessight will be transient and it will deteriorate over time.

I ordered 2 floor lamps with powerful SAD lamps in to help him see - they arrived today http://www.green-lamp.co.uk/floor-lamps/uplighters.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[HRHFluffy]

I'm glad Laz seems a little happier already. That is a good sign

Does this vet have a different opinion about the health of Laz's eyes? Didn't the last vet say his eyes were healthy. With Laz being given Istin, does this vet think he has hypertension and could this be part of the cause of his night blindness? I know that often once a cat has been treated for hypertension, their eye sight can be restored. Has Laz's blood pressure been tested? Sorry for all the questions

Hope he continues to improve. He's a brave boy.

[booktigger]

Glad that he seems to be doing better on the meds. Interesting that they have given him BP meds without checking his BP though.

[MarkB]

He didn't test Laz's BP but said te detachment was caused by high BP. We are only doing a 10 day trial so we will have to see. I queried why the other vet said there was no retinal detachment or eye damage. He said it can come on literally overnight. I really don't know if he is covering for his colleague or if it is true. I guess the important thing is it has now been picked up. He is definitely more relaxed

His eyesight also seems better, although far from perfect. Not sure how much is to do with meds or the new lights.

It really is odd for us having SAD lighting in our living room rather than warm lighting. Not too harsh with uplighters though

[HRHFluffy]

You'll never know if he's covering for the other vet or not. Laz is being treated appropriately now so that is the important thing. Taking BP is very tricky. Fluffy's previous vet made out he didn't have the equipment, then he said they did have it but it's not reliable. My current vet has the equipment thankfully. When Fluffy has her BP read, it is a long and trying process!! Takes a lot of patience from the cat, owner and vet. But it's important so worth doing. It really is a good sign that Laz is improving. I would say it is more likely to be the meds than the lights. If he's happier too then even better

Hope he continues to improve. Also hope you get used to the lights!!

[Diana]

Just catching up on this all. Gosh what a worry there for a moment. Strange though it affected Laz at night but glad it is improving. When I read tumor I was so worried for a sec.

[SarahT1 [PLLE]]

Dear Laz, glad he's happier than he was. Poor you with the SAD lighting. I can't stand bright lights, but it's what we do for our babies isn't it!

[lilynmitz]

I've got a dodgy retina, and I know from experience that even with the most ultra high tech equipment, it's hard to pick up. Even minor changes to just a tiny part of the retina can cause visual distortion, and it's only more advanced cases that would be visible. And yes, these things can happen and/or suddenly deteriorate overnight. So it could be that the first vet missed it.

I hope the improved lighting will help Laz - Mitz's sight was much worse in halogen lighting, but tbh he did cope very well despite that. However, be careful how much you expose yourselves to it in the evenings as it will almost certainly disturb your sleep patterns. I've used it for SAD, and the instructions that came with the lamp say you should never use it in the hours before bedtime, as your body clock will still think it's daytime (I think it's because daylight affects the pituitary gland, which governs the body clock).

[Crewella]

I'm glad you now have a diagnosis, and very glad to hear that he seems better.

(I now have a mental picture of Laz looking happier, and you and your OH stumbling about the house in shades!)

[MarkB]

Thanks everyone

With the uplighters, it is bearable. It was awful with SAD bulbs without lampshades in table lamps!

I have used super bright SAD lightbulbs in the kitchen & bathroom for the last couple of years - they are great. Funny when you close your eyes in the shower - it feels like a bright unny day on the most miserable day

I don't seem to be having any trouble with my sleeping pattern - it hasn't changed since Alice days - I stay up until Laz is settled - usually around 1 - 2am and read for a bit. Back up at 7am and fit for a nap by 3pm (luckily I can do this)

I'm concerned about his drinking again, despite having the DDAVP. I wonder if any of the meds cause increased thirst, or if the lighting is affecting him?

[booktigger]

Steroids can increase drinking Mark, you should know if it is that when you decrease the dosage

[MarkB]

Thanks Desley. Fingers crossed for Monday

[Diana]

My girl Heidi was on steriods and she did drink a little extra. Some meds will increase thirst. Be thinking of you guys Monday x

[Lyn from Australia]

When I Google SAD lights, there is a whole bunch of stuff about seasonal affective disorder - these are lights to help the body clock? And are helpful with pets?
Would not be any use to me as I read in bed and always fall asleep with the light on and I suspect anything brighter would be the end of me.
Sorry, but as you all probably know we are eons behind you guys in the UK for anything remotely to do with cats.
Please give gentle fusses to Lazzie boy from me.

[lilynmitz]

Mark, I'm not surprised you're ready for a nap at 3pm if you only get 5 hours sleep a night!

[HRHFluffy]

Hope all goes well tomorrow Mark. We're all thinking of you.