Bluebelle's eye infection

Bluebelle was brought to me at around 3 months old by a neighbour who found her in her garden, being worried at by her two dogs. She had a very bad eye infection and her left eye was closed with yellow crusts. The vet gave her oral clavamox and a local eye gel. It seemed to clear up, but recurred and she got another course of antibiotics. This was 3 months ago and we have been fighting the infection ever since with different meds. I have also been giving her Lysine, in case it is due to a herpes infection. Last week a new vet gave her drops that made it worse. The crusts have gone but the eye is constantly weeping and she holds it half closed most of the time. Otherwise she seems in good health, eating, playing and eliminating as a kitten should.

Yesterday I took her to yet another vet, who kept her in overnight for observation. This morning she had a full examination under anaesthetic, to search for foreign bodies, ulcers, impacted lashes or anything else that could be infecting or irritating the eye. Nothing was found. The vet took a biopsy and sent it to the lab for culture, to see if they can find a virus or bacteria that is causing the infection. I probably won't get the results for 10 days For the present they have given me only a calming gel to put in her eye, and I will wash it all out daily.

I really have no idea what this could be and would welcome ideas or experience from others. All my vets are stumped. I wonder if this is the reason why she was dumped way out here in the countryside.

Your poor baby and poor you!  You're doing all the right things, though, and good for you last vet who was so thorough.  It could be herpes related and/or it might be something that will be a chronic problem. Hopefully, you'll be able to figure out what's going on and get the problem resolved.

Got the results from the lab at last, and the news is good. She is negative for everything except a chlamydia infection, so no FIP, no herpes, no calicivirus. I am so relieved. But the strange t hing is the vet is treating her with Opthilon ointment, which is exactly what I started out giving her for the few days after her arrival, before I could get her to the vet. They told me then that she needed something stronger and she has had several different meds since, none of which have worked. Anyway, after 24 hours back on the Opthilon her eye is open, though still a bit pussy. She must have it for at least three weeks, so we will see how it goes. She is a happy little soul and eating well, a great addition to the clowder!

Yay!  So glad you found out what's going on and it's treatable.  Also glad that you're already seeing some improvement.  Good going!