Bunny cataracts

Question
We have a dwarf Holland Lop that is about 5 yrs. old, her name is Taffy.  She is strictly an indoor bunny.  She developed a cataract in her right eye about 2 mos. ago.  Our in home vet checked her out and was perplexed that a bunny only 5 had already contracted this condition.  We did not know of any trauma to the eye and she does not seem to be bothered by it.  We were just grateful she still had her left eye.

This morning while giving her some timothy hay I noticed her left eye had become cloudy (approximately half the eye). By this evening the entire eye is cloudy.  She is getting around pretty well, bumping into a few soft items, we watch her constantly when she is not in her cage, so to try and protect her from running into things that could cause even more harm.
We are aware of the surgery and we were quoted approximate cost of $1500 per eye.  This is completely out of our financial means.
My two questions are, is it common for the cataracts to develop so quickly?  Is there something we did wrong that caused this? We take care of her just like any family member.  Lastly, what can we do to keep her as happy and with quality in her living situation?  We want was is best for her and though we would hate to lose her we certainly don't want her to suffer just to meet our needs.
I look forward to hearing from you and thank you in advance for your time.
Sincerely,
Diane G.

Answer
Dear Diane,

I'm sorry about Taffy's unfortunate development.  Cataracts can be caused by any number of conditions, and almost anything that causes inflammation in the eye can cause a cataract.

Our veterinary ophthalmologist, who is very experienced with rabbits, told me just this week that domestic rabbits seem genetically prone to glaucoma, and this is a major cause of cataracts in them.  Our own Kyla developed a cataract in her right eye, but by quickly getting her on medication to control intraocular pressure in the other eye, we've been able to forestall any problems (so far).

I'd strongly recommend you get your bunny to a good veterinary ophthalmologist for evaluation and possible treatment.  If the lenses in both eyes are already too damaged, then there may be nothing more to do to restore her vision (glaucoma also usually damages the retina, so removing the lens and cataract would be pointless).  However, glaucoma can be painful, and daily eye drops may be necessary to keep her happy and comfortable--IF this is glaucoma.

A veterinary ophthalmologist will be able to tell you exactly the cause of the cloudiness in the eye.  It might not be cataracts, but an intraocular infection, and that, too, needs to be treated.

If you don't have a good vet ophthalmologist, you can find a good rabbit vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

who may be able to refer you.  Cataracts and their causes and treatment are usually a bit beyond the scope of the vet who is not board certified in ophthalmology.

If Taffy does lose the sight in her other eye, it's no reason to consider euthanasia if her eyes are not unbearably painful.  Rabbits get around very well with just their whiskers, noses, and ears.  Losing their eyesight is an inconvenience, but as long as no one moves the furniture, and she knows the lay of the land, she should be able to get around just fine.

I hope this helps.

Take care,
Dana