Budgie eye problems (glaucoma?)

[mintysowner]

Hi all. I hope everyone is doing OK? We’ve had Bertie a few months now and we had already noticed both of Bertie’s eyes didn’t look quite right, he had unfortunately been around smoke for most of his life - but does anyone know what this is? Sorry the photos aren’t brilliant but you get the idea. He’s really quite timid so I don’t know how he would deal with going to an avian vet - but is there anything they can do for him? As I say this eye is the ‘worse’ looking one but I can see similar in his other eye. I’ve never seen anything like it so wondered if it was at all related to the smoke he was subjected to or if it was something else?

[tweetiepiesmom]

I'm sorry I don't have any specific knowledge to help you. Is he showing any signs of illness like fluffing up, sneezing, watery poops, etc? Have you noticed any discharge from the eyes or nostrils? Hopefully someone has good advice for you.

[mintysowner]

Apr 27, 2023 16:16:08 GMT tweetiepiesmom said:

I'm sorry I don't have any specific knowledge to help you. Is he showing any signs of illness like fluffing up, sneezing, watery poops, etc? Have you noticed any discharge from the eyes or nostrils? Hopefully someone has good advice for you.

Thank you tweetiepiesmom he’s quite timid, he has his moments where he’s very talkative but I do feel he isn’t 100% happy, unless I am just comparing him to all of my budgies but he does seem the quietest (although I admit Sol does have verbal diarreha so maybe not a fair comparison!). He’s had an upset stomach a couple of times but we thought that was due to a couple of car journeys as it happened after them. Other than that he is drinking and eating fine and generally his poops are ok too. I’m glad we’ve been able to give him a new home with Sol but I do worry about him as he’s not as vocal as Sol and I wondered if he is depressed if his eyes aren’t quite right? X

[tweetiepiesmom]

I don't know if there is anything wrong with Bertie. I will say that my two, Tweetie Pie and Buddy, seem to be like what you've described with Sol and Bertie. Tweetie Pie is very quiet but has his noisy moments. He naps alot but does his mad dash flying and comes out to play on top of the cage and play with Buddy. He's very timid and skittish and doesn't interact with me much. Buddy on the other hand is very vocal, yelling at me to uncover them in the morning, bring him food and just come visit him. When he's out, he comes sit on me and play with my hand. He's always singing and chirping.

I've taken Tweetie Pie to the vet several times because I've thought he migth be sick. The vet didn't find anything wrong and told me its just behavioral.

Having said this, I think its best to observe him and get to know him better as long as he's not showing any signs of illness. As far as his eyesight, when he's out flying, does he run into the walls? Can he find his way to spots to land? Can he find his way back to the cage? If none of that is an issue, it sounds like his eyesight is good.

Keep interacting with him. Its great that you've given him a healthier and loving home.

[Hezz]

I would definitely get his eyes checked out. Only a vet is going to be able to tell you what might be the problem, whether it would affect his mood, if it may be painful for him etc and also work with you on a future plan if there is treatment that could help him.