How to Determine if Your Hamster Is Blind

If you're concerned that your hamster may be blind, it's important to pay careful attention to the symptoms he is exhibiting. Hamsters can suffer from a variety of conditions that may affect their eyesight, some of which are serious and some of which are not. It can be very hard to tell if a hamster is blind because they naturally have very poor vision. Luckily, this also means that going blind is usually not much of an adjustment for them, as they rely much more heavily on their senses of smell and hearing.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Recognizing Symptoms of Eye Problems

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Hamsters are naturally very near-sighted. Whereas humans rely primarily on their sense of sight to get around the world, hamsters rely much more on smell and hearing. Just because your hamster doesn't seem to be able to see like a human does not mean anything is wrong.
Although it may be difficult to diagnose with any certainty, excessive clumsiness may be a sign that your hamster is going blind. Take notice is he starts walking into things or falling off of things.
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Recognize the symptoms of cataracts. If your hamster's eyes look milky, this is a sign of cataracts. Cataracts usually occur in older hamsters, and they can lead to total blindness.^{[1]XResearch source}
- There is no treatment available for cataracts in hamsters, but the condition doesn't cause them any pain.
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Recognize the symptoms of conjunctivitis. If your hamsters eyes seem inflamed or his eyelids are stuck together with a crusty discharge, he may be suffering from a condition called conjunctivitis, but he is most likely not blind. This condition has a variety of causes, including bacterial infection or irritation from a foreign object.^{[2]XResearch source}
- You can attempt to loosen your hamster's eyelids by wiping the discharge away with a clean, moist cotton ball.
- If your hamster's symptoms continue, you should take him to the vet. He may need to have his eyes flushed with saline, or he may need antibiotics.
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Recognize the symptoms of exophthalmos. If your hamster's eyeball seems to be protruding from the socket more than usual, he may be suffering from a condition called exophthalmos, also known as proptosis. This is a serious condition that can cause your hamster to lose his eye. Other symptoms include an enlarged eyeball, redness, and watery discharge. ^{[3]XResearch source}
- This condition requires immediate veterinary care!
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Recognize the symptoms of glaucoma. Just like humans, hamsters can develop glaucoma, which eventually leads to blindness. If you hamster has glaucoma, you may notice that he has a strong aversion to light or that his eyes bulge a bit.
- If you notice these symptoms, take your hamster to the vet. Without treatment, glaucoma can be very painful.
- Some hamsters can be treated with medications, while others may need to have their eyes surgically removed.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Caring for a Blind Hamster

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You should always bring your hamster to the vet if you believe there is anything wrong with his eyes. If it turns out the be something like a cataract, your vet will not be able to offer any treatment, but if it turns out to be an infection of the eye, treatment is available.
If your hamster is blind or is losing his sight, there's not much you can do about it. It may be helpful to know, however, that most hamsters can still live perfectly normal, happy lives even without their vision. Because hamsters have poor vision to start with, they don't rely on it much to get them through their daily lives.^{[4]XResearch source}
Some hamsters may become more skittish or irritable when they become blind, so don't be too alarmed if you notice these behaviors in your hamster.^{[5]XResearch source}
Although most hamsters will do just fine without their eyesight, some may have a harder time adjusting. If you notice that your hamster is becoming very clumsy, take care to remove anything from the cage that might cause injury.