Why do rats have cloudy eyes? - briefly
Cloudiness in a rat’s eyes typically signals cataract formation, which may arise from aging, genetic defects, vitamin A deficiency, or ocular infections. The condition reduces visual acuity and often indicates broader health issues that warrant veterinary evaluation.
Why do rats have cloudy eyes? - in detail
Rats develop a milky or hazy appearance in the cornea and lens when the eye’s transparent structures become compromised. The most common mechanisms are:
- Age‑related cataracts – protein aggregation in the lens fibers scatters light, producing a cloudy look. Genetic strains prone to early cataract formation show this sign as early as three months of age.
- Nutritional deficiencies – lack of vitamin A or essential fatty acids impairs retinal and corneal health, leading to epithelial degeneration and stromal opacity.
- Infectious agents – viral infections such as Sendai virus or bacterial keratitis cause inflammatory exudate and stromal edema, which appear as diffuse clouding.
- Trauma or ocular pressure – blunt injury or increased intra‑ocular pressure damages the corneal endothelium, preventing fluid drainage and resulting in edema‑induced haze.
- Metabolic disorders – diabetes mellitus elevates blood glucose, inducing osmotic stress in the lens and accelerating cataractogenesis.
Histologically, cloudy eyes display disrupted collagen lamellae in the corneal stroma, loss of endothelial cell density, and lens fiber vacuolization. Biochemical analyses reveal elevated oxidative markers and reduced antioxidant enzyme activity, indicating that oxidative stress is a central factor in lens opacification.
Preventive measures focus on maintaining balanced nutrition, controlling environmental pathogens, and monitoring glucose levels in laboratory colonies. Early detection through slit‑lamp examination allows intervention before vision loss becomes severe.