slightly swollen eye

[shazbaz123]

Around 3 days ago I noticed that the right side of my bearded dragons eye was slightly swollen. You wouldn't even notice it unless you was looking for it. However I am worried as this is my first bearded dragon and so I panic about anything. He is around 1 year old now and I've had him for about 2 months, originally he had sand substrate but I changed it to reptile carpet as I know the dangers sand has. The temps in the viv are around 35 degrees (I'm british sorry I don't know fahrenheit) in basking spot and 30/25 degrees every where else in the viv. His diet mainly consist of greens (he has a new found love for rocket). Another problem I found is that he likes to eat mealworms but these cause impaction (could this be the cause of his eye issue?) he does however eat locusts that's what he was originally fed on by his past owner and so I just carried on with that. They also used nutrobal as a supplement is this any good? I'm trying to give as much info as possible as I am worried :| he hasn't lost any energy, actually he seems to be more active whenever he's not basking. His stool seems fine. In the tank there is a 10.0 reptiglo ubv light. The heat supply is from a ceramic heat emitter.

please help as I am worried
thank you

 

[shazbaz123]

Around 3 days ago I noticed that the right side of my bearded dragons eye was slightly swollen. You wouldn't even notice it unless you was looking for it. However I am worried as this is my first bearded dragon and so I panic about anything. He is around 1 year old now and I've had him for about 2 months, originally he had sand substrate but I changed it to reptile carpet as I know the dangers sand has. The temps in the viv are around 35 degrees (I'm british sorry I don't know fahrenheit) in basking spot and 30/25 degrees every where else in the viv. His diet mainly consist of greens (he has a new found love for rocket). Another problem I found is that he likes to eat mealworms but these cause impaction (could this be the cause of his eye issue?) he does however eat locusts that's what he was originally fed on by his past owner and so I just carried on with that. They also used nutrobal as a supplement is this any good? I'm trying to give as much info as possible as I am worried :| he hasn't lost any energy, actually he seems to be more active whenever he's not basking. His stool seems fine. In the tank there is a 10.0 reptiglo ubv light. The heat supply is from a ceramic heat emitter.

please help as I am worried
thank you

 

[Gail]

First thing I would do is turn off the UVB, see if that helps. Some dragons have issues with repti-glo bulbs. Then check his eye really well if you can, see if the eye looks red or if there is discharge, something could be stuck under the eyelid. You can use saline solution to rinse his eye, could help and won't hurt.
If it gets worse, see a vet in case of infection or a stuck something. Mealworms wouldn't have caused this.

 

[shazbaz123]

thank you I will turn it off, there is no discharge from his eye and it looks perfectly fine its just a bit swollen

 

[shazbaz123]

if it does turn out to be the uvb light, what could I use instead
thank you

 

[CooperDragon]

If it does turn out to be the UVB light, I suggest moving to an Arcadia tube light setup. You can get the bulb, ballast, and reflector from Swell Reptiles https://www.reptiles.swelluk.com/arcadia-complete-uv-light-kit-desert-reptiles/ The 22'' should do well for most setups. Just mount it over the basking site about 30cm above the highest basking area.

 

[shazbaz123]

Thank you, also if it is the uv light when will I notice the difference?

 

[Gail]

I'd give it a few days but you should see a difference within a week. Can you get him outside in the sun for at least 30 min each day while the light is off?

 

[shazbaz123]

It's pretty cold where I live at the moment, it's been raining the last couple of days so that might be no good definitely will if the weather brightens up ☺

 

[shazbaz123]

First thing I would do is turn off the UVB, see if that helps. Some dragons have issues with repti-glo bulbs. Then check his eye really well if you can, see if the eye looks red or if there is discharge, something could be stuck under the eyelid. You can use saline solution to rinse his eye, could help and won't hurt.
If it gets worse, see a vet in case of infection or a stuck something. Mealworms wouldn't have caused this.

Hi Gail,
I did as you said and turned his UVB bulb off before I went to work, I've now return and what I see has kind of scared me, he was ridiculously pale, a lot paler than what he goes when he is warm, is this normal when they are not exposed to UVB rays? He also appears to not be able to open his eye properly when he is directly looking from the side but at other times it is fully open, shall I post pictures so you can see what I mean?
Sorry for all the posts I feel like I'm bugging but I'm sure other owners would panic if they were dealing with something they aren't used to.

 

[CooperDragon]

Does he have a dark black beard along with the pale color? That usually means they are in distress or quite sick. Can you upload some photos here https://www.beardeddragon.org/useruploads/ and post using the XIMG button?

 

[shazbaz123]

Does he have a dark black beard along with the pale color? That usually means they are in distress or quite sick. Can you upload some photos here https://www.beardeddragon.org/useruploads/ and post using the XIMG button?

I've just tried to upload but I'm completely useless, can you give me a step by step guide
I can however tell you that he did not have a black beard but I would like to post photos so that you can see what I mean
thank you

 

[shazbaz123]

I've done it now, sorry that some are upside down, the first photo is of his normal eye

 

[CooperDragon]

No black beard is a good sign. Once you get to the upload manager page, press the new upload button on the left. Then click on the choose file button in the middle and pick a photo. Then press upload. If nothing happens, refresh the page in your browser and try it again. Repeat for each photo.

Once the photos you want to share are uploaded, reply to your thread and press the XIMG button at the top of the text window to select the photo you want to post. Repeat for each photo you want to post.

 

[shazbaz123]

No black beard is a good sign. Once you get to the upload manager page, press the new upload button on the left. Then click on the choose file button in the middle and pick a photo. Then press upload. If nothing happens, refresh the page in your browser and try it again. Repeat for each photo.

Once the photos you want to share are uploaded, reply to your thread and press the XIMG button at the top of the text window to select the photo you want to post. Repeat for each photo you want to post.

I've done it down but thank you, the photos have uploaded if you care to have a look