There are a few potential reasons why your bird may be closing one eye:
Eye Infection or Injury
One of the most common reasons for a bird to close one eye is that the eye is infected, irritated, or injured in some way. Just like humans, birds can develop eye infections or injure their eyes. An eye infection may be bacterial, viral, or fungal. Common symptoms include:
- Redness or swelling of the eyelid or eye area
- Watery, crusty, or sticky discharge coming from the eye
- Squinting or complete closing of the affected eye
- Rubbing or scratching at the eye area
- Loss of appetite
If the infection is severe, your bird may act lethargic, fluffed up, or withdrawn. An eye injury can occur from flying into objects, getting poked by a sharp object, or scratches to the eye from branches or toys. With an eye injury you may see bleeding, swelling, or bruising around the eye. In either case, you’ll want to take your bird to an avian veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible.
Limited Vision
Some birds are born with impaired vision or limited vision in one eye. Others may develop vision issues later in life from cataracts, glaucoma, retinal detachment, or other eye diseases. If your bird has had vision issues for a long time, it may instinctively close the eye with poorer vision. This helps limit double vision and confusion. Birds with lifelong vision impairment manage well since they adapt to it from a young age. But any new squinting or change in vision should be checked by an avian vet.
Blockage of the Eye
Something as simple as a bit of seed hull, dust, feather, or other debris can become lodged in a bird’s eye and cause irritation. Your bird may try to dislodge it by shaking its head and rapidly blinking. But if the object gets stuck behind the third eyelid or elsewhere in the eye, it can be difficult for the bird to remove. A partially closed eye could indicate discomfort, pain, or spasms of the eyelids as the eye tries to remove the blockage. See an avian vet promptly if you notice any eye debris or closed eye that doesn’t resolve quickly.
Discomfort or Irritation in the Eye
Allergies, dry eyes, molting flakes, or preening oil getting into the eye can also cause redness, itching, and irritation. Your bird may try to relieve discomfort by partially closing the affected eye. This could also occur with wind, smoke, or chemical irritants in the environment. Keeping the eye closed helps minimize further irritation. If it’s an allergy, you may notice watery eyes or nasal discharge along with eye closure. For any eye irritation or inflammation, flush gently with sterile saline and protect from further irritation. Call your avian vet if symptoms persist more than a day.
Neurological Issue
Rarely, an issue with the nerves or muscles controlling eye movement could cause a bird to abnormally close one eye. Conditions like stroke, brain inflammation, trauma, or birth defects can sometimes impact eye nerves and muscles. You may notice the affected eye looks droopy, doesn’t move properly, or remains closed. Neurological issues tend to come on suddenly and result in other symptoms like weakness, poor balance, head tilting, or paralysis. Seek emergency vet care if you notice any such signs.
When to See the Vet
Make an appointment with your avian veterinarian if your bird is closing one eye persistently. It’s especially important to have it checked if your notice any of the following:
- Redness, swelling, discharge, or crusting in the eye
- Tearing, squinting, rubbing, or pawing at the eye
- Sudden onset of changed eye position or movement (may indicate neurological issue)
- Any sign of trauma – bleeding, bruising, laceration
- Eye kept closed for more than a day
- Other symptoms like lethargy, fluffing, loss of appetite
Catching eye issues early maximizes the chances of a full recovery. An avian vet can examine your bird and prescribe medication to clear up any infection or inflammation. For debris, they can carefully flush the eye and remove any foreign material. Birds with impaired vision or neurological conditions can often adapt well if the underlying issue is properly diagnosed and managed where possible. With prompt veterinary attention, most birds recover well from eye problems.
What Vet Exam Entails
Your avian vet will start with a history of your bird’s symptoms and overall health. They will observe your bird’s posture, behavior, and how it responds to handling and examination. Often blood tests or cultures may be taken to check for underlying issues.
Your vet will conduct a thorough eye exam using an ophthalmoscope, microscope, and illumination to magnify and evaluate the eye. This allows assessment of:
- Eyelids, cornea, lens, iris, inner eye structures
- Clarity and any abnormalities of the cornea
- Size and response of the pupils
- Presence of discharge, debris, or foreign bodies
- Signs of injury, ulceration, infection, or irritation
Additional tests like fluorescein stain, Schirmer tear test, pressure check, or X-ray may be done depending on findings. Your vet can then recommend appropriate treatment.
Home Care While Treating Eye Issue
Your avian vet will provide medication and instructions on caring for your bird’s eye at home. Here are some tips that may help during recovery:
- Give all medication as prescribed, especially finishing the full course of any antibiotics.
- Use clean cotton balls to gently apply eye ointments or drops.
- Avoid touching or putting pressure on the eye area.
- Monitor appetite and behavior – lethargy or fluffing up needs vet follow-up.
- Keep a healthy diet with lots of antioxidants from fruits and vegetables.
- Monitor the other eye for any issues developing.
- Keep the cage and perches clean to prevent recurrence.
- Follow up with your vet as recommended to ensure complete healing.
With proper care at home and follow up, your bird should make a full recovery. Alert your vet if the condition persists or worsens despite treatment. Complications like ulceration or vision loss are possible if eye issues are left untreated. So prompt attention and good follow-up care are key.
Preventing Eye Problems
You can help prevent many eye problems by taking the following precautions:
- Feed a balanced diet low in fat and high in vitamins A, C, and E
- Avoid overgrown claws which could cause eye scratches
- Trim feathers around the eyes
- Keep cage clean to avoid dust, debris, and buildup of droppings
- Routinely check eyes – look for any redness, swelling, discharge
- Protect bird from irritants like smoke, fragrances, chemicals
- Use safety clips on fetch toys to prevent eye poke injuries
- Provide safe, sturdy perches and vary diameters to exercise feet
Annual well bird exams allow vets to catch early signs of eye disease and assess overall bird health. With good care, nutrition, and safe surroundings, you can help your bird avoid many eye problems.
When to Consider Specialist Care
For severe, chronic, or complicated eye conditions, your avian vet may recommend referral to a bird eye specialist. This is an avian veterinarian who has undergone additional training and certification in birds’ specialized ophthalmic anatomy, diseases, and therapies.
Examples of when specialist referral may be advised:
- Longstanding eye infection not resolving with treatment
- Corneal ulceration, perforation, or other severe corneal conditions
- Anterior uveitis, glaucoma, or other inflammation within the eye
- Cataracts or lens luxation requiring surgery
- Retinal detachment or degeneration
- Eye cancer or tumors
- Undetermined visual deficits or neurological issues
- Need for advanced diagnostics like fluorescein angiography or electroretinography
- Injuries causing severe ocular damage
A bird eye specialist has specialized tools, diagnostics, and therapeutics to effectively manage complex eye diseases. They can perform delicate eye surgery as needed, such as cataract removal, corneal transplant, or enucleation of a damaged eye. Your general avian vet can coordinate referral if this degree of advanced care is needed.
Conclusion
If your bird is keeping one eye closed persistently, prompt veterinary attention is important. While some causes like debris or mild irritation may be transient, often a closed eye signals an underlying issue needing treatment. With the specialized anatomy and function of avian eyes, even minor issues can quickly escalate. Regular eye exams and follow up care with your avian vet can minimize lasting impairment. While an affected eye may take some time to heal, most birds can be restored to full comfortable vision with proper veterinary treatment.
