Eye infections

Birds rely heavily on their eyesight, so any change to an eye means stress and danger for them. Apart from conjunctivitis, which we cover in a separate article, the eye can also be affected by more serious conditions: inflammation of the cornea, injuries, swelling caused by sinusitis and lesions from avian pox. Some of these can quickly threaten sight, which is why it is important to recognise them in time.

• Keratitis (inflammation of the cornea) – the cornea is the clear front part of the eye. The inflammation most often develops after a scratch or a foreign body through which bacteria or fungi get in. The cornea becomes cloudy, and an ulcer can form.
• Eye injuries – flying into glass, an attack by a cat or another bird, pecking in the cage, sharp wire edges. Infection easily develops alongside an injury.
• Swelling around the eye due to sinusitis – birds have a large sinus just below and in front of the eye. When it becomes inflamed (bacteria, mycoplasma, chlamydia, fungi, vitamin A deficiency), discharge builds up and the skin around the eye swells, sometimes as a hard lump. The eye itself may be healthy.
• Avian pox (avipox) – a viral disease spread by mosquitoes and direct contact. Wart-like scabs appear on the eyelids, around the beak and on the feet. It is common in pigeons, canaries, sparrows and tits.
• Infections inside the eye – less common, usually as part of a general illness.

On the eye itself:

• a cloudy, greyish or whitish cornea, a spot or a dent on the eye
• heavy tearing, discharge, the eye kept closed all the time
• blood in the eye or a change in the colour of the iris
• the bird's sight is poorer: it misses the perch or food, or bumps into objects

Around the eye:

• swelling below or above the eye, sometimes with displacement of the eyeball
• scabs, sores and wart-like growths on the eyelids (pox)
• feathers around the eye stuck together, ruffled or missing
• scratching and rubbing the head on perches

General signs: lethargy, loss of interest in the surroundings, reduced appetite. With sinusitis there is often also sneezing and discharge from the nostrils.

• a visible eye injury, blood or a foreign body in the eye
• a cornea that suddenly becomes cloudy or white
• an eye that looks bulging, sunken or deformed
• a rapidly growing swelling around the eye
• scabs covering the eye so that the bird cannot see or eat
• the bird cannot see, bumps into things or cannot find its food
• as well as the eye changes, the bird has difficulty breathing, is fluffed up or is not eating

Injuries and corneal ulcers can get so much worse within one or two days that the bird loses the eye.

The vet examines the eye with a magnifier and a special light and uses fluorescein dye to check whether the cornea is damaged. If necessary, they take a swab or a sample of discharge from the sinus, and with scabs they may send a sample to the lab to confirm pox. With swelling around the eye an X-ray of the head is sometimes needed as well.

• Keratitis and injuries: the vet prescribes eye drops or ointment with an antibiotic or antifungal, and removes any foreign body themselves.
• Sinusitis: the vet may flush or open the sinus and remove the thickened discharge, and prescribes medication according to the cause. Treatment often takes weeks.
• Pox: there is no specific medicine against the virus. The vet treats secondary bacterial infections of the scabs and advises on supportive care. Many birds recover within a few weeks.

Do not put any drops into the eye yourself, and especially not preparations containing corticosteroids, as they can cause permanent damage if the cornea is injured. Do not remove scabs yourself.

• Place the bird in a quiet, warm, dimly lit box or cage, away from draughts.
• Remove high perches and swings: a bird with poor sight falls easily. Put food and water on the floor, always in the same place.
• Keep it apart from other birds, especially if you suspect pox.
• Do not press on the eye and do not try to remove a foreign body.
• Wash your hands after handling the bird. If the vet suspects chlamydia, clean the cage wearing gloves, as this disease can be passed on to humans.

Hand over a wild bird with an eye injury or pox to a rescue centre or a vet. Wild birds are protected and may not be kept at home for long periods.

• A cage without sharp edges or protruding wire, and enough space so that birds do not attack each other.
• A varied diet rich in vitamin A.
• Mosquito nets on outdoor aviaries (pox).
• Quarantine for new birds.
• Stickers or curtains on glass surfaces to prevent collisions.

Eye infections in birds can quickly threaten sight, so any cloudy cornea, injury or swelling around the eye needs to be examined. With quick help from a vet and calm care at home, most birds recover well.