Herpes Conjunctivitis in Cats: Symptoms, Treatment and When It Is an Emergency

By Dr Duncan Houston

A red, watery or sticky eye in a cat is often labelled “herpes”, particularly when the problem has happened before. Feline herpesvirus is certainly one of the most common causes of conjunctivitis and corneal disease in cats, but it is not the only possibility.

The most important question is whether the inflammation is limited to the pink tissue around the eye or has spread to the clear cornea. Uncomplicated conjunctivitis is usually manageable. A corneal ulcer can be intensely painful, progress quickly and threaten vision.

Cats with eye pain should therefore be examined promptly rather than treated repeatedly with leftover medication from a previous flare.

Quick Answer

Feline herpesvirus type 1, commonly shortened to FHV-1, can cause red, swollen eyes, discharge, squinting, corneal inflammation and painful corneal ulcers. After the initial infection, the virus usually remains dormant within the cat’s nervous system and may reactivate during stress, illness or immune suppression.

Most uncomplicated episodes improve with appropriate treatment, but an eye that is held shut, appears cloudy or blue, contains a visible white or dark spot, or seems severely painful needs same-day veterinary care. A kitten with swollen or sealed eyelids should also be examined urgently.

What Is Herpes Conjunctivitis?

The conjunctiva is the thin pink membrane that lines:

• The inner surfaces of the eyelids

• The third eyelid

• Part of the surface surrounding the eyeball

Conjunctivitis means that this tissue has become inflamed.

FHV-1 can infect the conjunctiva and the tissues of the upper respiratory tract. It may cause conjunctivitis alone, or it may also affect the cornea, which is the transparent surface at the front of the eye.

Corneal involvement may produce:

• Keratitis, meaning inflammation of the cornea

• Superficial corneal ulcers

• Deeper corneal ulcers

• Corneal cloudiness

• New blood vessels growing across the cornea

• Permanent scarring

• Rarely, loss of the eye

FHV-1 is a leading cause of conjunctivitis and keratitis in cats. Acute ocular disease can be both severe and painful.

Why Does Feline Herpes Keep Coming Back?

After the initial infection, FHV-1 travels along sensory nerves and becomes latent, particularly within the trigeminal ganglia inside the head.

During latency, the virus is inactive and the cat may appear completely healthy. The virus can later reactivate and begin replicating again.

Possible triggers include:

• Moving house

• Boarding

• Entering a shelter

• A new animal or person in the home

• Surgery or hospitalisation

• Another illness

• Corticosteroid treatment

• Pregnancy, birth or lactation

• Conflict with other cats

• Major changes in routine

Not every flare has an obvious trigger, and a recurrence does not mean that an owner has done something wrong.

Almost all cats that experience primary FHV-1 infection are thought to become lifelong latent carriers. Reactivation may cause visible disease, or the cat may shed virus without showing any symptoms.

What Are the Signs of Herpes Conjunctivitis?

Possible signs include:

• Red or pink conjunctival tissue

• Swollen conjunctiva

• A prominent third eyelid

• Clear, watery discharge

• Mucous or sticky discharge

• Yellow or green discharge when secondary infection develops

• Frequent blinking

• Squinting

• Holding the eye partly or completely closed

• Rubbing the face

• Pawing at the eye

• Sensitivity to bright light

• Crusting around the eyelids

• Sneezing

• Nasal discharge

• Reduced appetite

• Fever or lethargy during more severe primary infections

The condition may affect one eye or both eyes.

Clear discharge is common during early viral disease. Thick yellow or green discharge can occur when bacteria colonise already damaged tissue, but discharge colour alone cannot determine the cause.

FHV-1 commonly produces conjunctivitis and upper respiratory signs. It may also cause punctate, branching dendritic or larger geographic corneal ulcers.

Is It Conjunctivitis or a Corneal Ulcer?

This distinction changes the urgency.

Finding	More consistent with conjunctivitis	More concerning for corneal disease
Redness	Pink or red tissue around the eye	Redness with a cloudy, rough or discoloured cornea
Discharge	Clear, mucous or mildly sticky	Discharge with marked pain or a visible corneal defect
Eye position	Eye remains mostly open	Eye is held tightly shut
Pain	Mild irritation	Strong squinting, light sensitivity or sudden withdrawal
Corneal appearance	Clear and reflective	Blue, grey, white, rough, indented or dark
Vision	Appears normal	Bumping into objects or sudden uncertainty
Urgency	Prompt examination if persistent	Same-day examination

The cornea should normally look smooth, clear and shiny. Any new cloudiness, blue haze, white spot, dark patch or visible depression requires veterinary examination.

A dendritic or branching corneal ulcer is strongly characteristic of active FHV-1 infection, but many cats with herpes-related corneal disease do not develop this classic appearance.

How Worried Should You Be?

Severity	What it may look like	What to do
Lower immediate risk	Mild watery discharge, slight redness, eye remains open and the cat is eating and behaving normally	Monitor for several hours and arrange a veterinary examination if it persists beyond 24 hours
Moderate	Repeated squinting, swollen conjunctiva, thick discharge, a prominent third eyelid or recurring episodes	Arrange a veterinary appointment within 24 hours
Severe	Eye held shut, marked pain, cloudy or blue cornea, visible white spot, bleeding, reduced appetite or rapid worsening	Seek same-day veterinary care
Critical	Bulging or ruptured eye, major trauma, sudden vision loss, chemical exposure, uncontrolled bleeding or severe respiratory distress	Go to an emergency veterinary hospital immediately

Eye disease can change quickly. A cat that is comfortable in the morning may develop substantially more pain or corneal damage later the same day.

Why Are Kittens at Greater Risk?

Primary FHV-1 infection can be particularly severe in young kittens.

A kitten may develop:

• Marked conjunctival swelling

• Thick discharge

• Eyelids sealed together by dried material

• Corneal ulceration

• Corneal perforation

• Severe upper respiratory disease

• Fever

• Dehydration

• Reduced food intake

• Pneumonia in uncommon but serious cases

Very young kittens can develop ophthalmia neonatorum, in which infection and discharge accumulate behind eyelids that have not opened normally or have become sealed shut.

Inflamed conjunctival surfaces may also adhere to each other or to the cornea. These adhesions are called symblepharon and can permanently affect eye movement, tear drainage or vision.

Do not pry a kitten’s eyelids open at home. The eyelids may need to be opened, flushed and treated by a veterinarian while protecting the cornea beneath them.

FHV-1 ocular and respiratory disease is often most severe in kittens, and advanced infection can cause permanent ocular damage.

What Else Can Look Like Herpes Conjunctivitis?

Not every red or discharging feline eye is caused by herpesvirus.

Important alternatives include:

Chlamydia felis

Chlamydia felis commonly causes marked conjunctivitis, particularly in young cats and multi-cat environments.

The inflammation may begin in one eye before involving the other. Conjunctival swelling can be dramatic, while corneal ulceration is less characteristic than it is with FHV-1.

Mycoplasma species

Mycoplasma organisms may be detected in cats with conjunctivitis, although some can also be found in healthy cats. Their clinical importance must be interpreted alongside the examination and other test results.

Secondary bacterial infection

Bacteria may colonise tissue already damaged by herpesvirus, particularly when discharge becomes thick, yellow or green.

Primary bacterial conjunctivitis is possible, but antibiotic response alone does not prove that herpesvirus was absent.

Trauma or a foreign body

Dust, plant material, claws and other foreign objects can cause:

• Sudden squinting

• One-sided discharge

• Corneal ulceration

• Bleeding

• Eyelid injury

Entropion

Entropion occurs when an eyelid rolls inward, allowing fur to rub against the cornea.

This can create chronic pain, discharge and recurrent corneal ulcers.

Tear-film disease

Reduced tear quantity or poor tear quality can cause:

• Sticky discharge

• A dull corneal surface

• Chronic conjunctivitis

• Corneal ulceration

FHV-1 infection has been associated with altered corneal sensation and tear-film abnormalities in some cats.

Eosinophilic keratitis

Eosinophilic keratitis often produces a raised pink, white or yellow plaque on the cornea with visible blood vessels.

It is an immune-mediated corneal condition. FHV-1 DNA is detected in some affected cats, but herpesvirus has not been proven to be the sole cause in every case.

Corneal sequestrum

A sequestrum is an area of dead corneal tissue that becomes tan, brown or black.

Chronic corneal irritation, ulceration and breed-related anatomy may contribute. Some cats require surgery to remove the affected tissue.

Uveitis or glaucoma

Inflammation inside the eye or increased intraocular pressure may cause:

• Severe pain

• A cloudy eye

• An abnormal pupil

• Redness

• Sudden vision loss

These conditions are more urgent than uncomplicated conjunctivitis.

FHV-1, C felis and other organisms can produce overlapping signs, and co-infections are common. Appearance alone cannot identify every cause.

How Do Vets Diagnose Herpes Conjunctivitis?

Diagnosis begins with the history and a complete eye examination.

Your veterinarian may ask:

• When did the signs begin?

• Is one eye or both eyes affected?

• Has this happened before?

• Is the cat sneezing?

• Has the cat recently moved, boarded or been hospitalised?

• Are other cats affected?

• Has any medication already been applied?

• Is the cat vaccinated?

• Has appetite or energy changed?

• Does the cat have a history of corneal ulcers?

The Eye Examination

Depending on the presentation, the examination may include:

Fluorescein staining

Fluorescein dye adheres to areas where the protective corneal epithelium is missing.

It helps identify:

• Corneal ulcers

• The size and shape of a defect

• Possible leakage from a perforated cornea

• Whether certain medications are safe to use

Tear testing

A Schirmer tear test may be used to assess tear production.

Intraocular pressure

Tonometry measures pressure inside the eye and can help identify glaucoma or uveitis.

Magnified corneal examination

A slit lamp or magnification allows closer assessment of:

• Ulcer depth

• Corneal cloudiness

• Blood vessels

• Sequestra

• Eosinophilic plaques

• Anterior-chamber inflammation

Eyelid and third-eyelid examination

The vet may look for:

• Foreign material

• Entropion

• Eyelid trauma

• Abnormal eyelashes

• Masses

• Conjunctival adhesions

Is PCR Testing Necessary?

Not for every cat.

A classic episode in a cat with compatible signs and previous herpes-related disease may be diagnosed clinically.

PCR testing becomes more useful when:

• The presentation is unusual

• Disease is chronic or repeatedly recurring

• Several cats are affected

• Initial treatment fails

• C felis or another infection is possible

• An outbreak is being investigated

• Confirmation would change treatment or isolation decisions

Samples may be collected from the conjunctiva, cornea, nose or throat. Sampling more than one site can increase detection.

However, a positive PCR result does not automatically prove that FHV-1 caused the current eye problem. Cats can intermittently shed viral DNA without visible disease. A negative result also does not completely exclude herpesvirus because shedding may be intermittent and the sample may contain little viral material.

When diagnostic swabs are planned, samples may need to be collected before fluorescein, topical anaesthetic or other eye medication is applied.

How Is Herpes Conjunctivitis Treated?

Treatment depends on:

• Whether the cornea is involved

• How painful the eye is

• Whether one or both eyes are affected

• Whether secondary bacterial infection is present

• Whether the cat has respiratory disease

• Whether this is a first infection or recurrence

• Whether topical medication can be administered reliably

Not every mildly affected cat requires every available medication.

Topical Antiviral Medication

Topical antiviral medications act directly on the surface of the eye.

Options may include:

• Trifluridine

• Cidofovir

• Idoxuridine

• Ganciclovir

Availability varies between countries, and some preparations must be compounded.

Cidofovir is often practical because it can usually be administered less frequently than several older antivirals. In controlled studies, twice-daily topical cidofovir reduced viral shedding, and corneal ulcers were more likely to heal in cats receiving an antiviral than in placebo-treated cats.

Some topical antivirals sting or require frequent administration. A theoretically excellent medication is not very useful when the cat disappears behind the fridge every time the bottle enters the room.

The veterinarian should choose a treatment that balances:

• Antiviral activity

• Corneal involvement

• Dosing frequency

• Availability

• Cost

• Tolerance

• The owner’s ability to administer it

Oral Famciclovir

Famciclovir is the most commonly used systemic antiviral for feline herpesvirus disease.

It may be considered when:

• Both eyes are affected

• Corneal disease is present

• The condition is moderate or severe

• Respiratory signs occur at the same time

• Eye drops are difficult to administer

• Disease is chronic or repeatedly recurring

• A kitten has extensive primary infection

Famciclovir has shown benefit in experimental and clinical studies, although response varies with the dose, formulation, timing and population being treated. A shelter study found limited benefit from one compounded oral formulation over seven days, while other studies and clinical reports have supported its use. This is why the drug should be prescribed using a current veterinary protocol rather than copied from an old internet dose.

Do not substitute another human antiviral without veterinary advice. Antiviral drugs that are safe for people are not automatically safe or effective in cats.

Are Antibiotic Eye Drops Needed?

Sometimes.

Antibiotics do not kill FHV-1. They are used when a veterinarian suspects or confirms a secondary bacterial infection.

Clues may include:

• Thick yellow or green discharge

• Marked mucous production

• Damaged corneal tissue

• Eyelids sealed by infected discharge

• Cytological evidence of bacteria

• A deep or infected corneal ulcer

Topical antibiotic selection depends on the lesion and likely organisms. A deep corneal ulcer may require more intensive treatment than uncomplicated conjunctivitis.

Repeated antibiotic treatment without checking the cornea can temporarily improve discharge while leaving herpes-related ulceration, entropion or another underlying cause untreated.

Lubricants and Supportive Eye Care

Preservative-free lubricating drops or gels may improve comfort and protect the ocular surface.

Veterinary products may contain ingredients such as:

• Hyaluronic acid

• Carboxymethylcellulose

• Other tear-replacement polymers

Lubricants support the tear film but do not stop viral replication.

Discharge can be softened using:

• Sterile saline

• Clean gauze dampened with lukewarm water

• A veterinarian-recommended eye-cleansing solution

Wipe from the inner corner outward using a fresh piece of gauze for each eye.

Do not scrub crusts aggressively or press on the eyeball.

Pain Relief and Protection

Cats with corneal ulcers may require systemic pain relief.

A veterinarian may also prescribe additional ocular medication for pain or inflammation depending on:

• Ulcer depth

• Intraocular pressure

• Pupil response

• Tear production

• Evidence of uveitis

An Elizabethan collar may be needed if the cat is rubbing or scratching the eye. Repeated pawing can deepen an ulcer surprisingly quickly.

Can Steroid Eye Drops Be Used?

Not without a veterinary eye examination.

Topical corticosteroids can worsen active epithelial herpesvirus disease, delay corneal healing and allow a superficial ulcer to become deeper.

Steroid-containing eye drops should not be used when a corneal ulcer is present.

This includes combination drops containing both an antibiotic and a corticosteroid. The antibiotic component does not make the steroid safe.

There are selected conditions, including stromal keratitis and eosinophilic keratitis, in which a veterinary ophthalmologist may prescribe topical corticosteroids or ciclosporin after:

• Corneal ulceration has been ruled out

• The diagnosis has been established

• Antiviral cover has been considered

• A close recheck schedule has been arranged

The distinction is important. Steroids can be valuable for selected immune-mediated corneal disease and dangerous when applied blindly to active ulcerative herpes disease.

When Is Surgery or an Ophthalmology Referral Needed?

Referral may be recommended for:

• A deep corneal ulcer

• Rapid corneal melting

• A descemetocele

• Corneal perforation

• A large corneal sequestrum

• Severe symblepharon

• Persistent stromal keratitis

• Recurrent ulcers despite treatment

• Eosinophilic keratitis that is difficult to control

• Uncertain diagnosis

• Progressive vision loss

Possible procedures include:

• Corneal debridement in selected lesions

• Removal of a sequestrum

• Conjunctival or corneal grafting

• Repair of a perforation

• Release of adhesions

• Removal of a permanently painful, non-visual eye when repair is not possible

Early referral provides more options than waiting until the cornea has become extremely thin or ruptured.

How Quickly Should the Eye Improve?

Uncomplicated acute FHV-1 disease often begins improving over several days and may resolve within approximately 10 to 14 days.

Corneal ulcers, chronic keratitis and severe kitten infections can take longer.

Contact the veterinary clinic sooner if:

• Pain increases at any point

• The eye becomes cloudier

• A new white or dark spot develops

• Discharge becomes much thicker

• The eye is held shut

• Appetite decreases

• A kitten becomes lethargic

• There is no visible improvement within 48 to 72 hours

• Medication cannot be administered

Corneal ulcers usually require a planned recheck. Looking better from across the room does not confirm that the corneal surface has healed.

Does L-Lysine Help Feline Herpes?

Routine lysine supplementation is not recommended as a reliable treatment or preventive strategy.

A systematic review found no consistent evidence that lysine prevents FHV-1 infection, reduces recurrences or treats active disease. Several studies showed no benefit, and some reported more frequent or severe disease in supplemented cats.

Cats also require dietary arginine. Attempts to restrict arginine in order to influence viral replication would be unsafe.

Lysine should not delay proven treatment for a painful eye or corneal ulcer.

Do Probiotics Treat Feline Herpes?

There is not enough evidence to consider probiotics a treatment for ocular FHV-1 disease.

One very small pilot study involving 12 chronically infected cats suggested a possible benefit from a particular probiotic strain. The result has not been confirmed by larger follow-up studies.

A probiotic may be used for another appropriate reason, but it should not replace:

• Eye examination

• Fluorescein staining

• Antiviral medication

• Treatment of secondary infection

• Pain relief

• Corneal monitoring

The evidence remains preliminary.

Is Feline Herpes Contagious to Other Cats?

Yes.

Cats with active primary infection or viral reactivation may shed FHV-1 through:

• Eye discharge

• Nasal discharge

• Saliva

• Respiratory secretions

Transmission occurs mainly through close contact with an actively shedding cat. Shared hands, bedding, carriers and bowls may also move fresh secretions between cats.

During an active episode:

• Separate the affected cat from vulnerable kittens where practical

• Use separate bowls and bedding

• Wash hands after cleaning the eyes

• Avoid sharing eye-medication bottles

• Clean carriers and contaminated surfaces

• Do not allow the bottle tip to touch the eye or fur

FHV-1 is relatively fragile outside the host, so prolonged environmental contamination is less important than close contact with fresh secretions.

Can Humans or Dogs Catch Feline Herpesvirus?

FHV-1 is adapted to cats and other felids.

It does not cause human herpes infection, and human herpesviruses do not turn into feline herpesvirus.

Dogs and people are not considered susceptible to ordinary FHV-1 disease.

However, other causes of feline conjunctivitis have different transmission considerations. Good hand hygiene remains sensible until the cause of an eye discharge has been assessed.

When Is Herpes Conjunctivitis an Emergency?

Go to an emergency veterinary hospital immediately if your cat has:

• A bulging, ruptured or visibly penetrated eye

• Severe eye trauma

• Chemical exposure

• Uncontrolled bleeding

• Sudden blindness

• A severely cloudy eye with an abnormal pupil

• Open-mouth breathing

• Blue, grey or very pale gums

• Collapse or profound weakness

Seek same-day veterinary care if:

• The eye is held tightly shut

• The cornea appears blue, grey, white or dark

• A crater, spot or line is visible on the cornea

• The eye is markedly swollen

• Your cat repeatedly paws at the eye

• Pain is severe

• The pupil looks different from the other eye

• A kitten’s eyelids are sealed or swollen

• Discharge is thick and rapidly accumulating

• Your cat has stopped eating

• The condition worsens over several hours

A mildly watery eye in a bright cat may not require a midnight hospital visit. It should still be examined if it remains abnormal the following day.

What Should You Do Right Now?

1. Look at the cornea without touching it

Check whether the clear front surface remains:

• Transparent

• Smooth

• Shiny

• Similar to the other eye

Cloudiness, a spot, a dark patch or an irregular surface increases the urgency.

2. Observe your cat’s comfort

Watch for:

• Squinting

• Hiding

• Light avoidance

• Pawing

• Reduced appetite

• Sudden irritability

• Reluctance to have the face touched

3. Prevent rubbing

Use an Elizabethan collar if your cat is repeatedly scratching the eye and you can fit one safely.

4. Clean only the external discharge

Use sterile saline or clean gauze dampened with lukewarm water.

Do not force the eyelids apart or rub the cornea.

5. Separate affected cats where practical

Use separate bowls and bedding while discharge is active, particularly around kittens or medically fragile cats.

6. Take a clear photograph

Photograph both eyes in similar lighting. A short video showing blinking or squinting may also help.

7. Arrange care according to the signs

• Mild watery discharge lasting less than a day: monitor closely

• Persistent redness or discharge: examination within 24 hours

• Squinting, thick discharge or recurrence: prompt examination

• Cloudy cornea, severe pain or sealed kitten eyelids: same-day care

• Major trauma, rupture or sudden vision loss: emergency care

8. Do not use random eye medication

Avoid:

• Leftover steroid drops

• Another cat’s medication

• Human redness-relief drops

• Human antibiotic ointment

• Contact-lens solution

• Essential oils

• Hydrogen peroxide

• Tea or herbal eye washes

• Unprescribed antiviral tablets

Eye medication should be chosen after the cornea has been examined.

Common Mistakes Owners Make

Assuming every red eye is another harmless herpes flare

A recurrent corneal ulcer, foreign body, glaucoma or uveitis may initially resemble a previous episode.

Using leftover steroid-containing drops

Steroids can turn an uncomplicated epithelial ulcer into a much more serious corneal problem.

Treating the virus with antibiotics alone

Antibiotics may control secondary bacteria but do not suppress FHV-1 replication.

Waiting until the eye is completely closed

Persistent squinting is already a sign of discomfort. Treatment is simpler before a corneal ulcer becomes deep.

Forcing open a kitten’s sealed eyelids

This can damage fragile tissue and the cornea beneath it. Veterinary opening and flushing are safer.

Relying on lysine instead of proper treatment

Lysine has not shown reliable clinical benefit and should not delay antiviral or corneal treatment.

Stopping treatment as soon as discharge improves

The cornea may still be ulcerated even after the eye looks cleaner.

Sharing one bottle between several cats

The bottle tip can become contaminated and transfer infectious material between eyes or animals.

Can Herpes Conjunctivitis Be Prevented?

FHV-1 infection cannot always be prevented, and latent virus cannot currently be eliminated from an infected cat.

Recurrences may be reduced by:

• Keeping core vaccinations current

• Reducing conflict between household cats

• Providing multiple food, water and litter resources

• Maintaining a predictable routine

• Providing hiding and elevated resting areas

• Introducing new animals gradually

• Avoiding unnecessary crowding

• Treating concurrent illness promptly

• Maintaining good nutrition

• Cleaning active eye and nasal discharge

• Isolating actively affected cats from vulnerable kittens

• Starting treatment early when a familiar flare begins

For cats with severe, predictable recurrences around boarding, surgery or another known stressor, a veterinarian may consider starting famciclovir before or during that event. This is an individual treatment decision rather than routine medication for every FHV-1 carrier.

Does Vaccination Prevent Feline Herpes?

Vaccination reduces the severity of clinical disease and may reduce viral shedding, but it does not provide complete protection against infection or prevent lifelong latency.

FHV-1 vaccination is considered a core feline vaccine. The exact schedule should be based on:

• Age

• Previous vaccination

• Local guidelines

• Indoor or outdoor lifestyle

• Shelter, breeding or boarding exposure

• Individual health

A cat that has already experienced FHV-1 disease should generally continue receiving appropriate vaccination because natural infection does not provide complete lifelong protection against future clinical episodes.

Will Your Cat Be Okay?

Most cats with uncomplicated herpes conjunctivitis recover well.

The virus usually remains latent, so future episodes are possible. Some cats have only one recognised infection, while others develop intermittent flare-ups throughout life.

The outlook is more guarded when there is:

• A deep corneal ulcer

• Stromal keratitis

• Severe neonatal infection

• Symblepharon

• A corneal sequestrum

• Repeated corneal ulceration

• Tear-film dysfunction

• Delayed treatment

• Significant concurrent respiratory disease

Early examination matters because the prognosis is generally much better while the cornea remains intact.

The goal is not necessarily to eliminate the virus, which is rarely possible. It is to keep the eye comfortable, protect the cornea, preserve vision and reduce the frequency and severity of future episodes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does feline herpesvirus ever leave the body?

Usually not. After primary infection, FHV-1 generally remains latent within nerve tissue for life. It may never cause another visible episode, or it may reactivate intermittently.

Can humans catch herpes from a cat’s eye?

No. FHV-1 is species-specific and does not cause human herpes infection.

Does every cat with herpes conjunctivitis need antibiotics?

No. Antibiotics are used for secondary bacterial infection. They do not treat the herpesvirus itself.

Should I give my cat lysine for recurring eye infections?

Routine lysine supplementation is not supported by reliable evidence and is not recommended as a replacement for veterinary assessment or antiviral treatment.

When can steroid eye drops be used?

Only after a veterinarian has examined and stained the eye. Steroids are contraindicated when a corneal ulcer is present but may be used under close supervision for selected immune-mediated corneal conditions.

Final Thoughts

Feline herpesvirus is common, and most affected cats can be managed successfully. The difficulty is that a mild conjunctivitis flare and a painful corneal ulcer may initially look very similar.

What matters most is whether your cat is squinting, whether the cornea remains clear and whether the condition is worsening.

A watery eye in a comfortable cat may be monitored briefly. Persistent redness or discharge deserves a veterinary examination. An eye that is closed, cloudy, discoloured or severely painful should be assessed the same day.

Do not rely on leftover drops, antibiotics alone or supplements to protect the cornea. A proper eye examination identifies whether the problem is limited to the conjunctiva or has crossed into disease that could affect vision.

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If you are unsure whether your cat’s eye can wait, or you need help monitoring a recurrent flare between examinations, ASK A VET™ can help you assess the warning signs and decide what to do next.