Cataracts in rabbits

Question
Hello,

Yesterday morning I noticed my 2 year old mini lop had a cloudy eye that appeared over night.  I took her straight to the vet, who said it was a cataract covering one third of the eye.  In my shock I neglected to ask a few questions and wondered if you could help please.

1.  Would a cataract appear over night?
2. If it is a cataract will it definately spread over the rest of the eye, or might it stay as just one third coverage?
3. Is there any preventative action I can take to stop it happening to her other eye and to her sister?

I have read some of your other replies to similar letters and wonder whether it might not be a cataract but a corneal cyst as it appeared so quickly.

I look forward to hearing from you as it breaks my heart to think of her going blind.

Regards

Answer
Dear Emma,

A cataract does not "cover the eye".  A cataract is a lesion in the *lens* of the eye, and is *inside* the eye.  I'm not sure if the vet was speaking figuratively, but if he really thought a lesion on the surface of the eye was a cataract, then you certainly need a different vet.  

You can find a rabbit-savvy vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

and preferably locate a veterinary ophthalmologist who has experience with rabbits.

To answer your questions:

1.  Would a cataract appear over night?

It's not *impossible*, but it's not very likely.  A cataract can develop, and become visible relatively suddenly, though.

2. If it is a cataract will it definately spread over the rest of the eye, or might it stay as just one third coverage?

If it's a cataract, it's in the lens.  If what you are seeing is on the cornea, then it's not a cataract (and if the vet thought a corneal lesion was a cataract, then I have to wonder where he got his degree.  Off the back of a cereal box?)

3. Is there any preventative action I can take to stop it happening to her other eye and to her sister?

Preventives depend on the cause, and that's what you need to determine now.  This could be anything from a corneal abrasion to clouding caused by glaucoma, or even an intra-ocular abscess.  I can't see it, so I'm just making educated/wild guesses. But I would worry less about contagion than about getting this treated appropriately so your bunny doesn't lose the vision in her eye.

I hope you can get her to a rabbit-savvy vet or ophthalmologist as soon as possible.

Take care,
Dana
P.S. - We have both rabbits and hares that have lost single eyes, and they do just fine.  I hope your bunny will be fine, but don't despair in any case.