iris pigmentation in a cat

Re: iris pigmentation in a cat

Charlotte Marshall — Wed, 27 May 2015 08:04:48 GMT

Apparently the reason the ophthalmologist was a bit dubious about it was that there was a variation in the colour density in the eye. i.e. some bits were a lot darker than others. I too would have just waited and the owner agonised about it for a while before opting for enucleation but turned out it was the correct decision.

Re: iris pigmentation in a cat

Stephen Courtney — Sat, 23 May 2015 14:52:13 GMT

Me too...but I'd like to read the histology report. not all melanomas are equal, though I'd always thought ocular ones were nasty, and would have expected to see far more clinical evidence than in this case!

I remember our ophthalmologist talking about iris pigmentations like these, and she would usually advise sitting on them until it's a little more obvious. Obviously in this case it probably would have been the wrong thing, but we can't go around enucleating every eye with a freckled iris!

I think the real issue here, which we all probably took with a grain of salt, was the owner's observation that the marks had developed rapidly. Clearly they were right.

Re: iris pigmentation in a cat

Martin Atkinson — Sat, 23 May 2015 10:39:27 GMT

[quote user="Charlotte Marshall"]pathology came back melanoma [/quote]And it looked so innocent to me in a photograph. I eat my hat.

Re: iris pigmentation in a cat

Charlotte Marshall — Fri, 22 May 2015 21:17:39 GMT

The cat got referred and was just monitored for a few months. There was no change but the ophthalmologist was a bit concerned. The owner opted for enucleation and pathology came back melanoma but it had not spread into the blood vessels so the prognosis is fair. Fingers crossed for the future.

Re: iris pigmentation in a cat

ruths — Thu, 21 May 2015 18:03:27 GMT

i don't kow what i did but it seems i verified the answer.. -))

i agrre that it could well be a mild uvieitis and maybe I'd do a little but of investigation.

Maybe do a full eye exam wiht a pentorch etc and check IOP

but it could be normal for this cat

Re: iris pigmentation in a cat

Vikki Halliday LLB — Thu, 21 May 2015 13:59:46 GMT

Charlotte, did you ever get any more answers with this cat?

Iris melanoma is a possibility as suggested, but more likely is age related change or a low grade uveitis, the last one I had tested positive for Toxoplasmosis. You could also look at the FeLV/ FIV status?

It's not usually visible as frank uveitis, (miosis, blepharospasm, ocular pain, lacrimation, conjunctival hyeraemia, corneal oedema etc), but the cat may have a history of intermittent runny eyes.

Would be interested in any further follow up you have done.

Re: iris pigmentation in a cat

JB88 — Mon, 12 Jan 2015 21:43:29 GMT

Difficult to be certain from a photograph but just looks like iris melanosis. Sometimes the client history cannot be relied on and this may be one of those cases - did your colleague take pictures on the first presentation so you can see if there really is a difference or just client perceived? Main things to monitor for are whether the areas of pigment are raised, monitor IOP for any apparent increases and changes in puil shape/contour. Iris melanoma can start as seemingly harmless melanosis (malignant transformation) so just need to monitor but from these pictures it looks normal.

Possibly discuss with owner that if they feel it has truly occurred and changed this quickly then you can refer to an opthalmologist and emphasise the costs associated with this. May then find out it is not as sudden as they thought! Owners may have not really looked at the cats eyes this closely before, then suddenly noticed the pigment and now as scrutinising daily, so perceive rapid change where there may not difference.

Re: iris pigmentation in a cat

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 09 Jan 2015 19:18:09 GMT

[quote user="Charlotte Marshall"]

Yeah I thought it looked pretty normal too. It was just that the owner was convinced it had appeared within a couple of days.

[/quote]Yeah, like the necrotic cat bite abscess that suddenly appeared overnight or the sarcopenic cat that was perfectly OK and eating until yesterday!

Re: iris pigmentation in a cat

Charlotte Marshall — Fri, 09 Jan 2015 18:47:55 GMT

Yeah I thought it looked pretty normal too. It was just that the owner was convinced it had appeared within a couple of days.

Re: iris pigmentation in a cat

Utlendigur — Fri, 09 Jan 2015 18:43:40 GMT

Looks like one of my cats. He's been like that for several years and I've just ignored it (being a typical vet)

Re: iris pigmentation in a cat

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 09 Jan 2015 08:51:03 GMT

It looks pretty normal to me. It is difficult to be certain from a photograph but it is just pigmentation, there are no raised plaques or suspicious looking bits.