Expert: Joe Zarnick - 9/5/2010

Question
OK so my bearded dragon is about 1 year old and is healthy but lately he has been closing his right eye and only opens it on occasion. Although he has used the same uvb bulb for about a year just recently i moved it closer to him, close to his right eye because i suspect he has the beggining of mbd. i use the exo terra repti glo 10.0 uvb it is a long tube about 18 inch long. could this be the cause of his eye problem because this is the only place that the uvb works for him. is there another bulb i could use that wouldnt hurt his eye from such a short distance? and is it the uvb light at all.
thanks,
jordan

Answer
Hello Jordan, I have never used the tube bulbs for the overall 4-5 years of owning bearded dragons and breeding them I have used the dome lamps. I would doubt the light is causing his eye to close. There could be an infection in the eye, only a vet will know after examination. Please call your nearest reptile vet and make an appointment. Also, having the uvb heat source at a close range it should have no effect on the eye.