Just keep in mind that radiographs are not generally an ideal way to look at soft tissue, and occasionally useless, especially when it comes to such incredibly small structures against bone (the skull). If anything I think she should have done a fluorescein stain to check for patency before you’d do something that costs more & will likely give less information. Generally a fluourescein stain will be much more affordable than several x-rays (one view is almost never sufficient) and a radiologist consult (which you should always ask for if you have x-rays taken, trust me).
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The issue with the fluorescein as it was explained to me is that it needs a vet that is intimately aware of the procedure, which isnt always available. Where as an xray just needs a radiologist, which is far easier to find. Also so far as i know, the fluorescein is diagnostic as in, it will confirm if there is a blockage, but will not actually show what the blockage is. An X-Ray is better when a blockage is known, and you are trying to find the cause of the block. My mindset was to assume there is a block since the problem is recent according to the seller, which should mean it is a block or stuck eyecap. When i return home, she should be shed, and as such, if the problem persists, it would stand to logic that the issue is a blocked duct, which removes the need to do a fluorescein test. Unless i am misunderstanding what the procedure is. I know some procedures exist to essentially inject dye so when an xray is done, the fluorescent material shows where the problem is. Were that the case, a combination of the 2 could help quickly ID where the problem is, and help figure out a plan of action for treatment.
Thanks! Hoping to get everything taken care of within the month 
Hey i have a question regarding your noodles poor little eye. My retic kahn has the same issue he got it after rubbing and pushing a lot. We’re treating that right now and this same issue with the eye arrose can you pleaee help with treatment or should i seek vet?
Im not sure if your situation will be the same as mine, i did seek vet help, but nothing ever came of it. The eye has remained swollen throughout and the snake doesnt seem bothered. It sheds fine, and eats fine, but the eye never reduced in size. That said, my case may be genetic. If yours is from an injury, it may be worth looking into vet care to ensure there is no infection and the eye is not lost. I would hate for you to see mine has not caused major issue and assume the same in your case, and something bad come of it. But for my case there has really been no treatment, it just is this way and has been since i got them.
Dr. Wyman,
You mentioned you have birthed 3 animals already with swollen eyes straight from the egg. I have birthed one this year, as well, and it is causing me some headache. I would love your opinion.
She hatched with a swollen left eye that looked bulbous, appx 3x as big as a normal eye. As she grew, the swelling migrated around her eye, as well, causing swelling on her lip and behind her eye.
I took advice from another breeder to help her be more comfortable. I disinfect myself, the area, and her eye area. I then use a small gauged, sterile needle to make a small hole. This is to allow the “fluid” to drain out.
Problems with this method are that the “fluid” is rather gel-like, making me think this is eye fluid and not lacrimal fluid. Also, this method helps relieve the swelling, but only temporarily. Usually within a week, it is built back up.
She eats fine and is growing well. It doesn’t seem to cause her pain when the eye or swollen area are touched. My exotic vet said lacrimal issue and recommended putting her down, but I have tried all the recommended treatments, with no avail.
In your experience and/or opinion, is this something that will resolve ever? Is it something you would consider euthanizing the animal over? She’s a gorgeous girl, is super chill to handle, and is a healthy eater, but I feel guilty over having to drain her eye or leaving her in that condition without fulling knowing how painful it actually is. I wonder if removing the eye would be an option. May check into that.
Thanks for any help you can give.
Paul
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Whew this is an old thread.
Not Travis, but I wanted to give a couple considerations.
Look to finding another reptile specialist vet for opinions. Or at the very least ask your current if he can perform the enucleation or recommend a vet that could.
If there isn’t an option for enucleation, vet don’t typically recommend euthanasia lightly. It is out of consideration for the quality of life.
Even performing the procedure that you have been has a risk of infecting the area. I say this as I just recovered recently from a surgery related infection. I’ve also seen other animals pick up infections when having fluids drained in a situation like abdominal fluid.
If something happens to you or if you consider rehoming this snake, will someone still follow through with this? If you stopped, there could be other complications including potential neurological ones if the swelling becomes more than what you’ve already seen while waiting.
I like to give every animal a chance if it can still potentially live a normal life with minor adjustments. But having to drain fluids and risk a rupture or infection is a lot to consider with the snakes quality of life.
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Just a quick comment here seeing as this was resurrected, for my girl with the large eye it has never resolved, that said she eats great, and behaves perfectly normal. By all aspects in my situation it seems like there really isnt any QoL loss.
This is with doing no attempted drains, it hasnt grown or gotten smaller, so my guess is genetic anomaly rather than medical. Ive adopted the “if it isnt broke, dont fix it” method at this point. Just no plans to breed her and pass it on.
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Unfortunately, this was very bad advice because it does not actually solve the problem
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And unfortunately, this is why it was poor advice. The effect is temporary unless you continue to do it repeatedly and each time you do it increases the risk of more/greater complications: infection, scarring, puncturing too deep… The list grows
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Honestly, it is a case by case basis. One of my animals had it resolve fine after a couple sheds. One of my animals stayed that way. And in the third, the animal’s eye ruptured because she was constantly rubbing it on things
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Bluntly, get a new vet. There are certainly other solutions and jumping right to euthanization makes me feel like the vet is just being lazy. Or is not experienced enough with exotics to do anything more that the most basic of procedures (might just be repeating myself there…)
Surgical removal is an option. It is not the greatest, for the reasons Christina mentioned above. With my girl who ruptured her eye, it eventually scarred over but I had to be very diligent about keeping it clean while it was healing And even after it had scarred over, I had to check her after every shed because sometimes there would be some stuck that I would have to manually remove. Also, just to be 1000% clear, this is not a procedure you can perform on your own. I know there was a video of a certain reptile personality that decided to do this on one of their snakes. I honestly believe that person should have been charged with animal abuse. If you do opt for this route, please find a vet that is comfortable performing the procedure
However, if the animal is behaving as if everything is fine and not acting like it hurts then I would just leave it be and continue to monitor. As verinium said, “If it ain’t broke…”
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