One of the most common health issues for turtles is eye disease. This includes eye infections, which can cause permanent damage to the eye or even cause the turtle to lose the eye entirely. These issues are usually caused by an underlying problem with the animal or their environment.
If you plan to keep or work with turtles, you’ll need to know about the types of eye infections that they can get and what to do about them.
Signs of an Eye Infection in Turtles
Despite the many different species of turtles, with some living in saltwater, freshwater, land, or a combination thereof, their eye infections all look similar and have similar causes.
A turtle with an eye infection may have a cloudy eye, eye discharge, a swollen eyelid, an eye that sticks out or is shrunken, blood in or around the eye, visible “dents” or scratches on the surface of the eye, nasal discharge, oral lesions, drooling, lethargy, inappetence, and other signs.
Many eye infections have underlying causes that may or may not be related to the eye, so the signs of these infections can vary greatly.
The 4 Most Common Turtle Eye Infections
1. Bacterial
This is the most common type of eye infection that a turtle might get, and a wide number of bacterial species can cause infections. Most are caused by bacterial species that the turtle already has on their body, which normally don’t cause a problem. If the turtle becomes ill, immunosuppressed, or stressed, if there’s trauma to the eye, or if they’re exposed to an active infection from another turtle, that’s when the bacteria can become a problem.
Examples of bacterial species that can cause an eye infection in turtles include the following:
- Bacillus
- Staphylococcus
- Sphingomonas
- Aeromonas
- Ochrobactrum
- Citrobacter
- Enterobacter
- Pseudomonas spp, Kocuria
- Morganella
- Pasteurella
- Salmonella
- Stenotrophomonas
- Vibrio
- Mycoplasma
- Chlamydia
Bacterial eye infections in turtles are treated with topical or possibly oral antibiotics, depending on the species responsible. Swabs of a turtle’s conjunctiva or eye discharge can enable a veterinarian to culture the bacteria and determine what species are present and which antibiotics are most effective for treatment.
It’s not uncommon for bacterial infections to also be present in the mouth or nasal passage, so treatment may be needed for more than just their eyes.
2. Fungal
Fungal eye infections are the second most common type of eye infection for turtles. These occur mostly for the same reasons as bacterial infections: They rely heavily on the turtle already being ill or stressed, with possibly poor water quality around them (for aquatic turtles). Fungal species that can cause eye infections in turtles include Candida spp., Aspergillus spp., and Curvularia spp.
Something that can sometimes identify a fungal eye infection rather than a bacterial one is how it commonly eats away at the eye rather than causing swelling and discharge. These are dangerous eye infections that can take much longer to treat, so you want to avoid these in your turtle at all costs.
Fungal eye infections are treated with antifungals. These are usually oral medications, though topical preparations like Miconazole drops can be found too. A veterinarian needs to diagnose the fungal eye infection first and then prescribe medication, so make sure your turtle with an eye infection is seen as soon as you notice signs.
3. Viral
Viral eye infections are almost always due to the spread of a viral infection from somewhere else in the body. The most common culprit is herpesvirus, but they can also be caused by ranavirus or rarely and only documented in the wild, fraservirus. They are often upper respiratory infections that spread to the eyes and can include significant nasal discharge, oral discharge or lesions, breathing trouble, lethargy, and other systemic (throughout the body) signs.
Viral infections can be tricky to treat. Antiviral medications like L-lysine or acyclovir are available and can help with signs of illness, but treating underlying problems that weaken and predispose them to infection is also important.
When a turtle has herpesvirus, which is incredibly common across turtle species, they have the virus for life, but it spends most of its time “latent,” meaning it isn’t causing illness. In times of stress or illness, though, the herpes virus can flare up and cause signs again until the virus and any secondary bacterial infections are treated, and then the turtle can appear normal again. This is why it’s so important to treat the underlying cause of viral eye infections in turtles.
4. Abscesses
Abscesses are a particular version of the aforementioned infections. Instead of the eye globe itself being infected, encapsulated areas of infection can develop instead, usually behind the eye or in the eyelid. These can trigger similar signs, such as an eye that protrudes or has a discharge, and they can also seed an infection in the eye itself, so the two can be related.
Abscesses in turtles are best treated by lancing them and giving the turtle antibiotics. Turtles and other reptiles lack the enzyme to break down infectious and white blood cell debris inside an abscess, which would then be resorbed. The contents of a turtle’s abscess are also usually thicker than in mammals, a cottage cheese-type consistency described as “caseous.”
Alternative Eye Diseases of Turtles
You should also be aware of different but often related eye diseases of turtles. The presence of any of these can trigger eye infections in addition to the ocular signs themselves. Treating these other issues is sometimes an important part of treating an eye infection.
These other diseases and conditions include hypovitaminosis A (vitamin A deficiency), tumors, trauma, conjunctivitis, upper respiratory tract infections, corneal ulcers, and cataracts.
Vitamin A deficiency is often an assumed component of any turtle eye infection that includes conjunctivitis or swelling and is a default part of treatment most of the time.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Are All Turtles at Risk for Eye Problems?
Yes, they are. In most cases, this is due to poor water quality for aquatic turtles and/or vitamin A deficiency for others. Since these eye problems can cause infections in other parts of the body, lead to blindness, and may be caused by an infectious agent that is also dangerous to people, it is important to have a veterinarian examine your turtle and treat the eye problem rather than attempt to treat it yourself at home.
Can I Use Human Eye Drops on My Turtle?
While there is a large overlap between eye drops used in turtles and those available for people, not all human eye drops are safe for turtles nor do they treat every type of eye infection or problem. Human eye drops, especially those available over the counter, should only be used in turtles under the supervision of a veterinarian.
Can Neosporin Be Used on Turtles?
While this may be okay for a skin lesion, it is never okay to apply to a turtle’s eye and should only be used at all when recommended by a veterinarian.
Conclusion
Turtle eye problems are common, and the cause might be an infection. Since there are so many different types of infections, though, it’s important to have a veterinarian assess what’s happening and why in order to get the best results from treatment. The first signs of an issue may be swelling or discharge from the eye, but sometimes, a turtle will be ill in a different part of the body first, which spreads to the eyes.
Treating an eye infection can be tricky, but a treatment plan can be designed based on the size and temperament of the turtle. If you have more than one turtle living together, be sure to quarantine any that show signs of an eye infection as soon as you notice them, then make an appointment for them to be evaluated by a vet.
- You might also be interested in: Common Diseases in Aquatic Turtles
Featured Image Credit: ALIAKSANDR PALCHEUSKI, Shutterstock
