Expert: Jessica - 6/25/2010

Question
I'm so worried!  My 7-year-old beautiful tabby cat has gorgeous, huge, green eyes.  A few months ago I noticed a few little brown spots in one of them.  The little specks have multiplied, and have gotten bigger.  The spots vary in size and have only appeared in his right eye.  He doesn't seem at all bothered with his eye, and his eyesight seems completely unaffected.  Do you know what this could be?  Please help!

Answer
Hi Jessica,

You may be right to be worried.  This could just be iris hyperpigmentation - deposits of excess pigment throughout the iris, which can occur as cats get older.  It doesn't cause any problems at all.  

However, there's also a significant chance it may be iris melanoma, a malignant cancer that aggressively spreads to other parts of the body.  It's among the most common cancers found in the feline eye.  Iris melanoma can often be cured if diagnosed early, before it spreads, by surgically removing the eye.  If the melanoma has already spread to more vital organs, the prognosis tends to be grim.

There are other reasons for eye color changes including inflammatory conditions such as uveitis and keratitis.  These tend to cause a broader change of color or a hazy appearance, though, rather than a speckled one.  

In any case, a vet visit is certainly in order.  If the condition is straightforward, your vet will be able to help you in their office.  If it appears to be complicated, you may need a referral to a veterinary ophthalmologist.

Best wishes!

Jessica