I have an 11 year old Persian cat named Fluffy who came to live with me when she was 4 and had been “retired” from breeding. She had an ulcerated eye when I got her resulting from what was believed to be a fight with another breeding female (queen). I now know that was probably incorrect.

Her eyes always teared badly even after the ulcer healed which was checked by her vet but no cause was determined. Periodically she did have eye infections that were treated with antibiotic eye drops. I routinely washed her eyes with a weak boric acid solution that also helped. Because she also was diagnosed with a paw pad problem (plasma cell pododermatitis) and periodically developed lip ulcers, she saw the vet more often than I would have liked. Her eyes were checked at those times if they were tearing and treated if there was a problem.

However, 1-1/2 years ago, Fluffy was diagnosed with glaucoma, recognized early by the same vet because I saw something “cloudy” in one eye. This vet cleverly checked eye pressure when there was no evidence of infection. The pressure was very high in one eye and we were immediately referred to a vet ophthalmologist who confirmed the diagnosis the same day.

Upon a complete examination he also found several distichia in both eyes and removed them. Since then she has had more distichia develop that have been removed and is now routinely checked at every appointment or when I see her eyes tearing. I now realize that all those years of tearing and infections were likely caused by distichia.

Her glaucoma spread to the second eye within 3 weeks. As far as I can tell, she has lost some peripheral vision but still has enough sight to get around and still plays although is hesitant about heights and strange places.

She is being treated with Timolol and Azopt, 1 drop in each eye 3 times a day and oral Methazolamide twice a day. The schedule is brutal but she is a dream cat and is very good about the medications

She quite willing takes the oral medication which is mixed into a liquid suspension by the drugstore. I squirt the measured dose into the side of her mouth, which she swallows. She sits on my lap unrestrained - after I catch her of course - and holds her head up for the eye drops. There is a 10 minute wait between drops and she seems quite content to remain on my lap for that time although she will never sit on my lap otherwise. She leaps off immediately after and always gets a treat.

I will be happy to answer any question since I understand it is uncommon for these problems to occur in a cat and for glaucoma to be diagnosed as early as it was in Fluffy.