Testing for Blindness?

[Sweetheart1016]

I'm concerned that Soul Patch may be blind. I first thought this when I realized he reacts to sounds, but not movement. Upon further testing, I've found his pupils don't react to light, and he doesn't seem to realize I'm going to touch his eye until I already have. Is there any other way to test his vision?

I'm thinking this was caused by a coil UVB light his previous owner had. He could get just 2 inches away from the bulb, and was there often basking. Is there any chance the damage is reversible? I don't mind a blind dragon, but I think we all realize it would be better if he wasn't blind.

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Oh that is too bad. What lighting are you using now?
You have tried moving your hand around him, to see if he follows & he doesn't?
How long has it been since he was under the bad lighting?
I am not sure if it would be reversible or not, but the damage could possibly be temporary hopefully.
Do you have any picture of him?

Tracie

 

[Sweetheart1016]

He doesn't react to my hand at all, and had no interest in crickets. It's been about a week and a half since bad lighting. Right now he's got a 10.0 reptisun tube for uvb. Pictures later, though his eyes look entirely normal

 

[Drache613]

Hello,

Wow, so he doesn't even move his head at all when you pass your hand beside his eye?
It doesn't sound like he has very good vision if any at all right now. I am not sure if that will come back or not.
You could try turning the Reptisun 10 tube off & just use a basking light perhaps to let his eyes rest from UVB lighting since they were likely damaged previously.
Maybe you could post some pictures or a video of him we could see?

Tracie

 

[label]

I'm concerned that Soul Patch may be blind. I first thought this when I realized he reacts to sounds, but not movement. Upon further testing, I've found his pupils don't react to light, and he doesn't seem to realize I'm going to touch his eye until I already have. Is there any other way to test his vision?

I'm thinking this was caused by a coil UVB light his previous owner had. He could get just 2 inches away from the bulb, and was there often basking. Is there any chance the damage is reversible? I don't mind a blind dragon, but I think we all realize it would be better if he wasn't blind.

If you can see his pupils and they don't react to light then the problem is unlikely to have been caused by excessive UV. The UV damages the outside of the eye (the cornea and conjunctiva); if neither eye responds to light then the problem would be back in the the brain or where the two optic nerves come together. If you have him in dim light and then shine a bright light into his eyes with no pupillary response or other reaction, that's a pretty good test of whether his eyes are working. I'm assuming he doesn't react visually to food. I know that someone on this board has a beardie who's functionally blind and does well, but feeding must be a challenge. Good luck with the little guy!