Buy our dog digital book bundle and prevent common accidents.

Cloudy Eyes – Not Always Cataracts

Author: Dr. Jason Nicholas

Published: March 15, 2016

Updated: July 5, 2024

Our mission is to help save dogs' and cats’ lives through our educational content. To support our efforts, this page may contain affiliate links. We earn a commission for qualifying purchases – at no cost to you.

senior chihuahua dog with cloudy eyes-ShutterDoes your pet have cloudy or blueish eyes? 

Have you ever noticed a cloudiness in your cat’s or dog’s eyes? Many people mention such eye changes during veterinary visits. While people often assume that their pet is developing cataracts, it’s not always the case (especially in cats). While cataracts do happen in pets, there’s a far more common cause of “cloudy eyes” — Lenticular (Nuclear) Sclerosis.

To the untrained and naked eye (sorry for the pun!) cataracts and lenticular sclerosis look very similar. To know the difference, your pet's eyes will need to be examined by your veterinarian or a veterinary ophthalmologist (a veterinarian specializing in eyes).

What's the difference between cataracts and lenticular sclerosis? And how does it impact your pet?

Lenticular (nuclear) sclerosis: Cloudiness of the lens of the eyes resulting from a normal aging change. The older components of the lens get compressed within the center of the lens as newer components are formed at the perimeters of the lens, which is a natural process and varies from pet to pet. This Cat-cataract.jpgcompression leads to an abnormal “hardening” (sclerosis) of the lens, which affects its ability to bend and allow light through in that particular portion of the lens. Lenticular sclerosis tends to affect both eyes equally and does not (typically) affect vision. In advanced cases there may be a deterioration in depth perception, however lenticular sclerosis doesn’t cause blindness.

Cataracts: Cloudiness of the lens of the eye(s) resulting from a significant change in the structure and integrity of the proteins and/or the other components which make up the lens. These changes result in an “opacification” of the lens, which prevents light from getting through to the retina where vision is “triggered.” Various levels of blindness can result from cataracts, depending on the stage of development of the cataract(s) and how much of the lens is affected. Cataracts can result from many different causes (including diabetes, in dogs) and can form in either one or both eyes.

Cataract-Dog-Cloudy-Eyes
For more information, see this article about cataracts in dogs (it’s applicable to cats, as well) and to learn more about cataract treatment, check out this (super cool) video of cataract surgery in a dog. (Don’t worry, there isn’t any blood shown in this video. Of course, it is surgery on an eye, so if the thought of that alone makes you queasy it might be best to skip it.)

 

GOT A MINUTE?
Please take our pet safety awareness survey.
Take Our Survey

The information you share will help us help many more pets.
It's anonymous and will take 1–2 minutes.
Thank you!

 

About the author

Profile picture for Dr. Jason Nicholas

Dr. Jason Nicholas

Dr. Nicholas graduated with honors from The Royal Veterinary College in London, England and completed his Internship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City. He currently lives in the Pacific Northwest.

Dr. Nicholas spent many years as an emergency and general practice veterinarian obsessed with keeping pets safe and healthy. He is the author of Preventive Vet’s 101 Essential Tips book series.