Why has my cats eye started changing colour (dark spots on iris)

Hi everyone I've got my cat booked in the vets for Thursday morning but I'm really worried about her so thought I'd post here and see if anyone can give some advice.
My rescue cat susie will be 12 in April, I've had her around a year now and one of her eyes had damage to the third eyelid.. In the last week I've thought I'd seen the eye change colour but thought it was the light but having a good look today there is definetly loads of brown spots on her iris and does seem to be getting browner, her eyes are usually a yellowish colour. She is squinting a little in her bad eye but within herself she is her usual lovely self. Anyone have experience with this or know what the cause could be ?

There can be eye changes due to age that cause brown spots on the iris. However, if these changes are occurring fairly rapidly, good to have her checked out. I might also suggest to have her blood pressure check to test for retinal hypertension.

I'll be curious to hear how her vet visit goes.

I was hoping it was age but looking at pictures of her even a week and a half ago both eyes are exactly the same colour and now it's probably 50/60% brown, considerably more even yesterday as I couldn't even tell if it was the light or colour change then.
I'll definetly get her blood pressure checked for retnal hypertension to, thanks for the suggestion. Wish I could get her in the vets sooner but as I'm in the middle of moving house at the moment so most of it will be done tomorrow but if there is change from tonight till tomorrow I think I will find a way to get her to the vets some how as I'd hate to think I was doing bad by her

This may be something called iris melanosis (freckles in the iris).  Retinal hypertension can cause bleeding in the front chamber of the eye, which would look different from freckles, but since you said her eye appears to be getting browner, could it actually be caused by a thin coat of blood starting to go over her iris?  If so, she needs to get to a Vet quickly as retinal hypertension can cause blindness.  If it's just freckles, I'm thinking she can wait until Thursday, and even then your Vet will probably refer her to a Vet Ophthalmologist  (yes, they DO exist). 

Yeah they do seem to look like lots of freckles joining together almost, I guess there is a possibility it could be blood but doesn't look like the pictures I've seen of retinal hypertension and more like iris melanosis but I should know better by now then to consult doctor Google as I'm now pretty worried it's bad news :-(

Yes, consulting Dr. Google can definitely make one worry.  Best to consult a REAL dr before getting yourself too worked up.  Hopefully there won't be any need for intervention, but if there is, THEN you can worry .  We've had some cats here on TCS that had iris melaNOMA, and they did ok, although unfortunately that usually involves removing the eye  .  

Unfortunately, we can't diagnose it for you; about all we can do is give you the benefit of our experiences, and moral support. I've had no experience at all with anything like this, but I've got loads of moral support to offer. :bigwink:

Loads of hugs, and let us know what the vet says.
Margret

:cat:

Sorry I've been unable to reply I moved house and just got my Internet sorted today. When I took susie to the vet they confirmed it may be a iris melanoma. The vet gave me three options an appointment/ referal with a specialist, biopsy or to keep an eye on it and hope it doesn't develop more .. since its already changed I decided to go with the referral so we can find out. Like you said they advised she may end up having to lose a eye. Poor girl, should find out tomorrow when out specialist appointment is

Ho

crazypetlady said:

Sorry I've been unable to reply I moved house and just got my Internet sorted today. When I took susie to the vet they confirmed it may be a iris melanoma. The vet gave me three options an appointment/ referal with a specialist, biopsy or to keep an eye on it and hope it doesn't develop more .. since its already changed I decided to go with the referral so we can find out. Like you said they advised she may end up having to lose a eye. Poor girl, should find out tomorrow when out specialist appointment is

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hope all goes well! Eye injuries are tough as kitty parents because there's really not much we can do until they are seen by a vet or specialist and we know what the cause is!

Yeah I'm quite worried about her, she's good in herself but still hope the news isn't to bad. It's her 12th birthday tomorrow as well

Well, let's hope it turns out to be a Happy Birthday and it's just Iris Melanosis vs Melanoma .  Better to know sooner than later though, in case it IS melanoma, as that can spread if left untreated.

Do keep us posted.

My cat had brown spots on his lips and waterline. Vet said it's normal pigmentation because of the sun.

Hope its nothing. What do you guys suggest. I've just heard from the specialists .. There surgery's is a few hundred miles away and I don't drive the vets can do biopsy or is it worth travelling to find out exactly as they can do more

Using a vet ophthalmologist myself, I personally wouldn't want anyone else doing an eye surgery in my cats. Lucky for me, though, that there are 3 in my area (within a 30 min drive.) And, even luckier that the ophthalmologist I prefer recently moved to practiced out of my regular vet clinic. Obviously the availability to me is different than your situation.

In my experience, eye surgeries go much smoother with the specialist. So, I would opt that route if at all possible. But, you have to decide what is feasible for you.

I am going through a similar experience with my 8-year-old cat, Maui.  He was diagnosed by a specialist with iris melanoma, and I was told that the best course of action is to have his eye removed.  The option exists to not do anything until the cat becomes blind, but unfortunately  Melanoma can spread, particularly to lymph nodes, abdominal area, and lungs.  So...it's best to get the bad eye out and hope that it hasn't spread already   To be sure, the animal hospital will also be be doing a chest scan, blood work and abdominal ultrasound when he has his eye enucleation (removal) to make sure things haven't spread. 

I understand you have a long distance to travel for the specialist/surgeon, but this procedure is done on an outpatient basis.  They remove the eye with a laser, and block the nerve endings.  Once the eye is out, they give stitches and send them home with pain meds.  Stitches will need to be removed in a couple weeks, but I'd be willing to bet your local vet can remove those.

I have not scheduled Maui's surgery yet (just got the news today), but I don't think you should wait if you want to get your cat treated.  Call the specialist and talk with them about it.  There really isn't a good alternative to enucleation when it is melanoma.   My costs for the exam, tests, surgery and follow-up was estimated at about $2000.

Good luck!

Thanks for the information and support. I really want her to see the specialist as they have the better equipment and experience with these things etc. I've been so stressed wanting to do the best for her. I've looked into a one that may be easier to get to travel wise but further away this is the same specialists but different surgery. I will call the vets to find out more but I have booked a place at other specialist just in case as time is important here I think

That's the latest news on Susie and her eye? 

Any update?

Sorry I've not had internet for a while. In the end it was a iris melanoma the eye was removed but she is still with us. I was told the whole tumour was contained in the eye but still possibility it could of spread, we had a scare this month and Susie was rushed to the vets as there was a . Lump on her leg and I feared the worse but when they operated it was a lead bullet must of travelled down to her leg over the years as she's been a house cat since I've had her