Leopard Gecko Echo: vermiculite in eye..."Pirate Echo" wearing eye patch ;-)

[brooksylc]

Leopard Gecko Echo: vermiculite in eye . . . . . . "Pirate Echo" wearing eye patch ;-)

Subject: Echo, female, almost 4 year old leopard gecko.

Problem: Tonight when I got home I noticed that Echo had something in her left eye. It seems to be affecting her vision to some degree, as she tried to walk off my hand (don't worry the other hand got there in time) but she normally knows where the edges of my hands are and only walks where she is being supported. She was very good with bring handled so I could get a better look at it. She keeps trying to lick it out or blink to get it out.

So I will be taking her into the vet (I have to call in the morning when they are open) but was wondering if anyone has experienced this with their leo or can suggest something for in the meantime.

She is currently kept on tile, so this is not a sand incident. However her humid hide had vermiculite (which is what the care sheet the breeder gave the previous owner said to use). I worried this might be what is stuck, so I tossed it and switched to papertowel in the humid hide. All other husbandry matches the requirements of the care sheet often suggested on here (1 hot hide, 1 cool hide, 1 humid hide, plain calcium in tank 24/7, 20 gal (sold as 25 gal) LONG, crickets dusted with vitamins 1/week and calcium w/D3 2-3 times, also given occasional and various worms, but she is fairly picky as she was only fed mealies and waxworms with her previous owner)

 

[cricket4u]

Hi Meg,

Ouch, it sure does look like vermiculite. Buy some sterile saline and try flushing it out. It can cause corneal abrasion. There is actually an article on the caresheet in regards to vermiculite you should read.

 

[brooksylc]

Done and it worked right away. I didn't even remember I had sterile saline,nor did I know what human products are gecko safe. Thank you cricket4u!
She looks and moves better. How quick can abrasions occur? And can the human eye see if it did? I really hope it didn't cause abrasions.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

Done and it worked right away. I didn't even remember I had sterile saline,nor did I know what human products are gecko safe. Thank you cricket4u!
She looks and moves better. How quick can abrasions occur? And can the human eye see if it did? I really hope it didn't cause abrasions.

Meg ~

Thanks for excellent troubleshooting! With the details you provided, no questions were left . Good job quickly removing the vermiculite.

Corneal abrasions happen quickly, but will heal quickly. Had a couple of my own over time from contact lens issues.

So if you could make a small pirate-like patch to cover her left eye temporarily...(just kidding)

 

[brooksylc]

So if you could make a small pirate-like patch to cover her left eye temporarily...(just kidding)

This made me chuckle. If I was any good with photoshop, I would make one.

And thank you for your response as well Elizabeth. I checked on her this morning and she seems to be her usual self. I just wish I didn't have to wait to learn the hard way with the vermiculite.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

This made me chuckle. If I was any good with photoshop, I would make one.

And thank you for your response as well Elizabeth. I checked on her this morning and she seems to be her usual self. I just wish I didn't have to wait to learn the hard way with the vermiculite.

Well, actually I had been thinking about a real-life patch :biggrin:!

 

[cricket4u]

Just keep an eye on the eye :biggrin: for signs of infection.

 

[cheddarness8]

Adding something useful to this thread, saline is a ubiquitous solution for vertebrate eye issues, like dry eye or objects in the eye. Consider the natural origin of vertebrate life- the ocean! The eyes of marine fish are constantly coated in salt water, or "saline." On land, we don't have such luxury, so we replicate it as best we can with tears. So, since we all use it, sterile saline shouldn't exacerbate eye issues for non-human tetrapods.


... UM ANYWAY.


Yarr harr harr. :B

 

[brooksylc]

cheddarness...I love the picture and what you named it (Echo the scurvy haha).

And she is doing amazing and her normal self, moving around confidently.

 

[XoVictoryXo]

LOLOL @ cheddarness8
I came in here very concerned and leave laughing hysterically. Finally a happy ending hahahah
I hope you dont mind I have to save this picture and post to my facebook so everyone else can get a laugh!

 

[brooksylc]

I saved the picture and sent it to my sister and she thought it was legit. bahahaha!

And Echo is still doing very good. Happy start to her soon to be 4th year of life (i was gonna say happy ending, but it isnt her ending)

 

[cheddarness8]

I'm glad that Echo is doing well, brook!

I can PM you a link to the full-size image, if you want it, since the forum shrunk it in the original post.

 

[Elizabeth Freer]

I'm glad that Echo is doing well, brook!

I can PM you a link to the full-size image, if you want it, since the forum shrunk it in the original post.

Me too, for the full-size image link please . I will PM you my email addy.