Cyclosporine Eye Drops

[2furbabies]

Hello Dear Cat Lovers,

It's been a long while since I've been on the site. I've been struggling with an issue I'm having with my Persian Sophia and am getting mixed reviews from different vets. She had eye surgery a month ago for an ulcer that wasn't healing. She had what is called a Grid Keratotomy and the surgery was a success. We've been back to the vet several times and the ulcer has healed. However, she has been left with a dark pigment in the center of her eye that is fairly large. She was prescribed Cyclosporine eye drops to use once a day. Typically these are for dry eye but in this case the vet tells me that they help to get rid of the pigment. That said, she was doing great before I started using these drops. I'm not certain if they sting or burn, but after I put them in she holds that eye shut for at least a day and seems very irritated by it. The vet said I should try to stick with the drops for at least several more weeks. I don't know... I'm on the fence about it. I'm wondering if anyone out there has used these eye drops before and how well they worked/or didn't. I've seen 2 different vets - one tells me to use these drops for several weeks and the other said to use them for life. As of right now I'm torn as to if I want to use them at all. I would imagine she will eventually adjust to having that pigment there, but it would be nice if it went away.

 

[mrsgreenjeens]

Glad the surgery went well!

Gosh, cyclosporine burns in humans, so I'd be surprised if it didn't burn in cats' eyes. How often are you supposed to give it to her? If she keeps her eye closed for an entire day after administering it, I'm guessing she goes around with one eye closed all the time .

Does your Vet think the pigmentation affects her vision? I think I'd be prone to not use it if this is for her entire lifetime and is causing her to react this way, if it's just for "cosmetic purposes" (basically)

 

[neely]

Just out of curiosity did you see a veterinary ophthalmologist? If not you could get a 2nd opinion from this type of specialist. We had to see an ophthalmologist for one of our persians who accidentally scratched his cornea a long time ago. Sophia is absolutely stunning and I hope she feels better soon, best of luck.

 

[2furbabies]

Just out of curiosity did you see a veterinary ophthalmologist? If not you could get a 2nd opinion from this type of specialist. We had to see an ophthalmologist for one of our persians who accidentally scratched his cornea a long time ago. Sophia is absolutely stunning and I hope she feels better soon, best of luck.

No, I haven't, but I have thought about it. I may wind up doing that but I know these specialists can be costly. That's basically what Sophia did was scratch the cornea but they called it an ulcer. What did they wind up doing for your Persian?

 

[2furbabies]

Glad the surgery went well!

Gosh, cyclosporine burns in humans, so I'd be surprised if it didn't burn in cats' eyes. How often are you supposed to give it to her? If she keeps her eye closed for an entire day after administering it, I'm guessing she goes around with one eye closed all the time .

Does your Vet think the pigmentation affects her vision? I think I'd be prone to not use it if this is for her entire lifetime and is causing her to react this way, if it's just for "cosmetic purposes" (basically)

I did hear that those drops sting in humans so you are right, that could be what's going on. She absolutely hates them. It's not so much for cosmetic reasons. You really can't see it unless you look very closely in the light. It is located in the very center of the eye and the vet said it probably does affect her vision. The only way I can describe it is if you've ever had a floater in your eye where you see a dark line or spot. But at least they go away whereas this doesn't.

 

[foxxycat]

I would ask about a different eye drop. My vet told me to find lubricating eye drops but I didn't follow up on this-I would think that there's a different eye drop that isn't as painful. I don't know about the pigment in the eye. Does the eye seem healthy otherwise? Any puffy or redness? Did they suggest any other drops?

 

[2furbabies]

The eye seems fine otherwise. I keep hoping with time this pigment will diminish. They didn't recommend any other drops. From what the vet said, apparently this one helps to get rid of that pigment.

 

[foxxycat]

I am sorry I don't know what the answer is- Sorry I can't answer the question-hoping someone else chimes in soon!

 

[neely]

No, I haven't, but I have thought about it. I may wind up doing that but I know these specialists can be costly. That's basically what Sophia did was scratch the cornea but they called it an ulcer. What did they wind up doing for your Persian?

I don't mind telling you what the ophthalmologist did for our Persian but I have to preface it with your understanding that: 1) it was in the 1990's so procedures may have changed, 2) our cat's scratch on the cornea was not very deep, and 3) every situation is different, i.e. different cat, different set of circumstances. He had a collagen lens placed over the cornea to help protect the layers as they healed. It worked out well for him and I sincerely hope the procedure your vet did for Sophia also works well. If you have any doubts or questions about the cyclosporine eye drops I would encourage you to discuss it more with your vet. Please keep us updated.

 

[2furbabies]

Hello All, just an update on Sophia's eye. I wound up taking her to see an Ophthalmologist yesterday. She has what is called a "Corneal Sequestrum". My options were surgery to remove the pigment (which is dead tissue), or to treat her with eye drops (which prevent infection), while we wait it out to see if the tissue will slough off on its on. The vet said it will sometimes diminish on it's own but could taken many months or even a year or more. So... since the little thing just went thru surgery in May I opted to treat her with the drops and just watch it for now. We go back in October for a follow-up. I'm so glad I decided to go even though my regular vet said it wasn't necessary. Lesson learned... go with your gut. Anyhow, we are back to eye drops which are no picnic with this little girl! Hoping she will get used to it in time because we will be doing this every day for the foreseeable future.

 

[neely]

I wound up taking her to see an Ophthalmologist yesterday. We go back in October for a follow-up. I'm so glad I decided to go even though my regular vet said it wasn't necessary. Lesson learned... go with your gut.

The older I get the more I've learned this lesson too - always go with your gut! Glad you took Sophia to the specialist and are more informed now as to your options. I also hope she will get used to the eye drops in time. Best of luck to your beautiful girl and you.