Cataract in one eye

Question
Today I noticed our 2 yr old male rabbit has one eye that is completely opaque (looks the same as another of our rabbits who has cataracts in both, from e.cun.) - although with him the other eye is unaffected.  Also, there is a white thin line, the same appearance as the pupil in a cat's eye in bright light, i.e. vertical and central, slightly wider in the middle than at either end. Is this significant do you know?  Thank you very much.

Answer
Dear Dinah,

Any abnormal appearance of the eye should be immediately checked by a veterinarian with at least some expertise in eye disorders of rabbits.  But preferably, a veterinary ophthalmologist is the person best able to tell you what is going on here, and how (and if) it can be treated before it progresses to blindness.

You can find experienced rabbit vets here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

But I'd recommend you do this as soon as possible, since eye damage is often not reversible if it's at the level of the lens and/or the retina.  Ask your vet for a referral to a good veterinary ophthalmologist, if possible.

Good luck,

Dana