I
I love Brownie
Hi, my hamster Brownie has cataracts. How can I treat it?
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RainbowBrite
Hello and welcome to the forum. Has a vet diagnosed Brownie with cataracts?
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I love Brownie
No, but I am a hundred percent she has cataracts because I googled online and the results were exactly the same as Brownie's eye
R
RainbowBrite
I would get a vet to determine if she does have cataracts first. Googling can be helpful but for something like this I think it is important to get it checked out just to rule out any other eye issues.
How is her behaviour otherwise? Did you notice this suddenly or has it been gradual?
How is her behaviour otherwise? Did you notice this suddenly or has it been gradual?
I
I love Brownie
It has been gradual, but the amount of whiteness in her eye has been increasing faster and faster.
R
RainbowBrite
I see. I would get her checked out by a vet. Then you will know for certain. A white eye could also be a sign of an eye injury and if her eye is injured she will be in pain. Hamsters hide pain very well so I think it is best to get her checked out.
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F
Frida
Hello and welcome to the forum.
I agree with RainbowBrite.
I agree with RainbowBrite.
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Hello Brownie - I know you already messaged me about this - it would be better to get a vet to have a look and be sure it's cataracts and not something else - like an abscess in the eye. Is it both eyes? It's possible it's cataracts but then there isn't much to be done about that and hamsters can manage very well with worsening sight, as they rely on scent and their whiskers mostly. But if it happened to be some sort of infection, it could be treated with antibiotics.
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elusive
Hello & welcome to the forum.
I agree it’s best to get a vet to have a good look at your hamsters eyes, it could be cataracts but it could also be an ulcerated eye which can look similar, it’s hard to differentiate eye conditions without having a look with the light that vets use, if it is cataracts then there isn’t much you can do other than make sure everything in the cage is easily accessible as she loses her sight, cataracts aren’t painful but other eye conditions are and a vet should be able to treat those & provide pain relief.
I agree it’s best to get a vet to have a good look at your hamsters eyes, it could be cataracts but it could also be an ulcerated eye which can look similar, it’s hard to differentiate eye conditions without having a look with the light that vets use, if it is cataracts then there isn’t much you can do other than make sure everything in the cage is easily accessible as she loses her sight, cataracts aren’t painful but other eye conditions are and a vet should be able to treat those & provide pain relief.
I
I love Brownie
Ok, I will find a vet to check in with Brownie.
R
RainbowBrite
Please let us know how it goes.
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Good luck at the vets. I know you said it can be hard to find one and means travelling. Ideally it would be an exotic vet as they know more about hamsters 
. Maybe try googling exotic vets in your region.
. Maybe try googling exotic vets in your region.
I
I love Brownie
Came back from the vet, and it was cataracts. 
R
RainbowBrite
That is okay. Hamsters do not really have good eyesight so it will not hinder Brownies life. Did the vet say anything else?
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I love Brownie
There is no treatment for cataracts, so the vet just said to be careful, and remove anything that might harm her from the cage.
R
RainbowBrite
You did really well to get Brownie checked out. At least you know she does not have any injuries. This will not harm her at all so please dont worry.
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elusive
Brownie should be fine, I’ve had an elderly hamster who lost his sight & he managed really well.
Just keep every thing in the cage as much on one level as you can to avoid the risk of falls otherwise try to keep things much the same & take care not to over clean & remove scent unless you really have to as Brownie will be even more dependent on that now.
Just keep every thing in the cage as much on one level as you can to avoid the risk of falls otherwise try to keep things much the same & take care not to over clean & remove scent unless you really have to as Brownie will be even more dependent on that now.
I
I love Brownie
Ok, I'll just keep a close eye on her just incase for any other sicknesses, and thank you guys for the help.
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You're welcome. You could maybe start a thread for Brownie so we can follow her progress People update the threads with photos and stories. She will be fine - there are plenty of blind hamsters who do absolutely fine with scent and whiskers and she may still have some sight. However one important thing is to not change things around in the cage and keep the same familiar layout, and not to clean out too much or too often. Big cage cleans aren't necessary - you can just "spot clean" the pee area mostly. There's a whole article on cage cleanining to avoid stress, on the home page.
www.thehamsterforum.com
People update the threads with photos and stories. She will be fine - there are plenty of blind hamsters who do absolutely fine with scent and whiskers and she may still have some sight. However one important thing is to not change things around in the cage and keep the same familiar layout, and not to clean out too much or too often. Big cage cleans aren't necessary - you can just "spot clean" the pee area mostly. There's a whole article on cage cleanining to avoid stress, on the home page.Hamster cage cleaning
Tips on how to clean your hamster cage and avoid causing stress to your hamster. It's best to have plenty of depth of substrate and mainly spot clean your hamster cage. Avoid disturbing your hamster's nest and hoard.
www.thehamsterforum.com