White spots on eyes

[Knaack]

Our California White chicken has developed white spots on her eyes. Does anyone know what that indicates? We think she isn't seeing as well as the other chickens. She runs into things and seems disoriented at times.

 

[Eggcessive]

Could you post a close-up picture of her eyes with any other symptoms? It's possible you are seeing cataracts, which can be caused by vitamin E deficiency, avian encephalomyelitis, and having lights on 24 hours a day in the coop. Mareks disease can cause tumors inside the eye which will affect color and shape of the pupil. Here is a link for you: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps031

 

[Knaack]

Thanks for trying to help. She is about one year old. We took this photo with our cell phone. She has white spots on both eyes but the left one is worse. The spot you see is not a reflection. She acts normal other than being disoriented and clumsy, making us think she doesn't see properly. She eats good and lays eggs. We don't have lights inside our coop.

 

[Eggcessive]

With her large dilated pupil that does look like a cataract, and I'm sure that she does has trouble seeing. Chickens can get along fairly well with impaired site, but with 2 eyes affected, it might be difficult.

 

[Knaack]

Is it something that can be fixed?

 

[Eggcessive]

I don't believe there is much that can be done for cataracts in chickens unless surgery is thought to restore full sight. Here is another link to read: http://www.avianweb.com/cataractsinbirds.html