Leopard Gecko Shedding Over Eyes

Question
QUESTION: Hi , I have already asked this question to another expert and got some good ideas from him, but I figure it can't hurt to ask a second person as well. My original post:

My leopard gecko recently shed her skin and is having a lot of trouble getting the skin off her face and eyes. One eye is completely closed shut and she cannot see anything. The other is open, but there is dead skin around the rim of her eyelid making it difficult for her to open it fully. I have been able to hand feed her a few mealworms, but not nearly as much as she normally eats. She is actively trying to eat, she just has a hard time seeing the food.

I tried spraying her a few times a day hoping the water would soften the skin enough for her to get it off, but I  found the water would just bead up and sit on top of the skin. I got the best results from using a wet q-tip and dabbing that at the skin, but the skin on her eye is very stubborn and I don't want to force anything. I read online that a "humidity box" can help with shedding, so that is my next plan, but I was wondering if you had any other ideas that could help. Thank you for your time.

Update: I have made a humidity box for her but she doesn't seem to like going in it. It is a clear tupperware container lined with damp paper towels with black fabric over the top to make it dark inside. It was also suggested that I try dabbing a little vegetable oil on the dry skin to see if that helps her get it off, although I have not tried that quite yet. I am planning on bringing her to a vet on Thursday if the problem doesn't fix itself.

ANSWER: Hello Jessica,

I feel that the problem will most likely end up being not enough humidity in the tank for her.  So, making the humidity/hide box is a good idea.  The paper towels will work pretty well as long as you check them a couple of times a day as they will dry out fast.  You could also try a moss or coconut husk type of bedding, as well, they both hold moisture very well.  The combination of moisture & heat should help the skin release more easily, too.  
Are you using an undertank heater on the side in which you put the humid hide/cave on?  If not, I recommend using one on that end, along with a low wattage basking light, too.

Bathing or soaking can help soften the skin while using a swab to help get the skin off carefully.  
Does her eye look infected yet?  If it doesn't clear up, a vet visit would be a good idea to make sure there is no eye damage from the skin drying up on the eye.  

Is she losing weight yet?  You can also try some chicken or turkey baby food to feed to her with a plastic dropper or plastic syringe.
What type of substrate do you have, sand, paper towels?

Let me know how she is doing.
Tracie

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QUESTION: Hi Tracie,

I agree with you about not enough humidity for her in the tank. Right now I am using paper towels for the humidity and checking on them a few times a day to replace them when they start drying out. I am also spraying the entire tank with warm water multiple times a day to try and help. I do have an under the tank heater set up on one side, although I had heard that under the tank heaters and heated rocks can be bad for some reptiles, so I haven't had it plugged in. Instead I use a ceramic heater from the top of the tank. I will plug the under the tank heater on though, now that I know it will be fine for her. Also, I use pet carpet for the substrate, should I add a layer or paper towels on the side with the under the tank heater, or is it fine with just the carpet?

I have had her in for a few baths, and she hates them. She allowed me to put a tiny piece of wet paper towel just over her eye (not the nostrils or mouth, I made sure) and let that sit for a few minutes before she threw it off. The combination of everything is seeming to help. The skin has detached from her top eyelid, but not the bottom, so even when she opens her eye she still cannot really see.

Her eye does not look infected quite yet. No goop coming out, swollen sections, or redness, so that's a good sign. She is able to see almost completely out of one eye, so she did eat a regular meal yesterday. She has not seemed to lose any weight yet and her color seems as usual as well as her level of activity.

I really appreciate your response, and I apologize if mine is long. I don't know anyone that is experienced with reptiles so I could talk all day. Thank you!

ANSWER: Hello Jessica,

Well, the undertank heaters are pretty essential for geckos as they need belly heat to digest properly.  As long as you have something in between the heater & your gecko it wont burn him. I have used them successfully with no mishaps.  So you can put the heater under the carpet & it will heat it enough for her.  How thick is the carpet?

That is so funny that she will sit with moist paper towels over her eye for a short bit before tossing it off.  At least it seems to be helping right now.  I am glad to hear that the eye doesn't look like it is getting infected any yet, so hopefully it wont be getting infected at all.  

If she is maintaining her weight, then you don't need to assist feed her then.  
I hope she continues to get better!
Keep me posted on her.

Tracie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Tracie,

I just wanted to update you and let you know that I did end up taking her to the vet, and although very stressful, she is much better. There was no infection or damage on her eye. The vet had me put saline solution drops in her eye because it was very dry from being stuck together, and that has been helping her a lot. She lost a little weight from not eating regular meals, and has been low energy partly from that and I think partly from stress, so I have been assist feeding her crushed up mealworms (yuck) since the vet visit. She had a check-up today and they said things are right on track and she looks better. So thank you for all the advice and helping me out. I really appreciate the time you spent on answering me.

Thank you so much and take care,
Jessica

Answer
Hello Jessica,

That is really good her eye is doing better now, poor girl.  Yes, I am sure that her eye was dry from not being able to shed properly.  At least there was no infection though, that is great!
You are crushing up some mealies for her!  
I am glad that she ended up improving, as so many geckos are not that lucky.
Great job on getting her back to health!  :-))

Tracie