Blindness --> Eyes falling out (a bit graphic/disturbing)

[the_edsta]

So this episode started when I met someone who had an unexpected litterof FL easterns. I bought them wholesalefrom him and rehomed most (donated a pair to a local science class as well... the students love them!) but ended up keeping the runt. I have a 20gal with two red-sided males, so figured this tiny male wouldfit in. The original owner said it hadn’teaten much and couldn’t compete with the others, hence its stature. I figured it would be better with me as Icould hand feed it and have more experience with colubrids. I learned fairly quickly that this little guyhad serious issues finding food; hand feedings would take forever if I didn’tliterally bump the food off of his nose. I suspected visual impairment. Last week, he formed large callouses over his eyes… they looked almostlike retained eye caps, but were bubbled out like balloons. Now this happened – it looks just like the balloonedeye caps, but these are the actual eyeballs coming out of the sockets. They make me a bit queasy, so be warned:
eye1.jpg

eye2.jpg

At this point, I have disinfected and treated the eyes as wounds, but I’m not sure what else to do. Heseems to like sun-bathing… and I believe his purpose is more to dry the area outthan for warmth (since, before now, he has not been a sunbather). Anyone with experiencewith this? I am hoping he can justsomehow lose the eyes and heal skin over the sockets… I will gladly care forthe blind little scrub. I cannot,however, bring him to a special vet for help. I have too many pets to start bringing little rescued scrubs to the ER…

[guidofatherof5]

Special needs snakes are very special.
Any chance we can get some closer photos. I've never seen this issue look like this before.

[the_edsta]

Special needs snakes are very special.
Any chance we can get some closer photos. I've never seen this issue look like this before.

Did you see the first pic? That was as close as I could get with that camera. I can do better with my 'real' camera, but it won't be easy. When I get a chance, though, I will try.

[guidofatherof5]

Did you see the first pic? That was as close as I could get with that camera. I can do better with my 'real' camera, but it won't be easy. When I get a chance, though, I will try.

Thanks Sorry my vision not what it used to be.

[the_edsta]

Thanks Sorry my vision not what it used to be.

(You're not alone! (poor snake!))

[ConcinusMan]

Thanks Sorry my vision not what it used to be.

Well Steve, from what I can see, both eyes are completely destroyed, dried up, and what's left of the eyes, is hanging out of empty sockets. Also, the jaw bone protrudes a bit in the back and the snake appears to be in poor shape overall. I think I see a "crinkly" look to the skin too (like a retained shed situation) but I can't be sure with just those photos.

[the_edsta]

What has the snake been eating? I ask because at least one vitamin deficiency affects the eyes. For what it's worth, I'd put a drop of a good bird liquid multiple vitamin preparation on his food. Bird vitamins are better than human vitamins because both reptiles and birds need vit D3 while humans can use D2.

Oh my....I would definitely move him to paper towels or news paper or something that won't get caught on his eyes.


I can't help but feel like he should go to a vet.....The way I see it, you took the animal in, and you are responsible for it's health and well being, rescue or not, no matter what animal.

Well Steve, from what I can see, both eyes are completely destroyed, dried up, and what's left of the eyes, is hanging out of empty sockets. Also, the jaw bone protrudes a bit in the back and the snake appears to be in poor shape overall. I think I see a "crinkly" look to the skin too (like a retained shed situation) but I can't be sure with just those photos.

Good call. The skin is in fact crinkly, the snake is getting worse as we speak. It refused its last meal. Sadly, I doubt it will last the week. I have transferred it to its own paper towel lined sterilite... I hope that it is at least comfortable.

[CrazyHedgehog]

This is bizarre, I have never seen anything like this, but a quick google search gave this

"Having stuck eye caps can cause the eye to eventually dry out and die, then it will basically just "fall" out, but there is usually no blood seen in those cases."
Snake eye falling out? Help! - Redtailboa.net

Although I have no idea how true this is or whether based on fact, the hypothesis of drying out if there is something wrong seems to make sense.

[the_edsta]

This is bizarre, I have never seen anything like this, but a quick google search gave this

"Having stuck eye caps can cause the eye to eventually dry out and die, then it will basically just "fall" out, but there is usually no blood seen in those cases."
Snake eye falling out? Help! - Redtailboa.net

Although I have no idea how true this is or whether based on fact, the hypothesis of drying out if there is something wrong seems to make sense.

Indeed, eyecaps have been an issue with this one... they would puff out larger and larger. On the shed before last, I ended up having to remove them and the eyes did look very dry. I was hoping they'd recover eventually, but this is not a good sign (to say the least). I do wonder if the initial visual impairment is related to this in some way (whether it began with him producing insufficient fluid or circulation in the eye... something to that extent). I'll keep researching.

[Invisible Snake]

I think this snake should be culled.