This Page is still Under Construction.

The eyes of a snake are, in a way, fairly vulnerable. Snake do not have eye lids to protect their eyes, though they have developed an almost thick outer layer of the eye that acts like a shield to protect it. During a shed cycle, the snake will shed this protective layer along with the rest of his/her skin. Even with this protective barrier, the eyes can be injured.

Bad sheds and prey bites are just two of the ways that a snake's eye can be injured. The best way to prevent either of them are to monitor the snake's shedding cycle and check to insure the eye caps are present in each shed as a retained eye-cap can become infected if not removed. To prevent bites from a food item, it is best to feed F/T or P/K items as opposed to live.

There are other freak accidents that can occur as well, from sharp edges on a viv decoration to lodged particles from the substrate, or possibly from contact with a larger preditor in the event of an escape.

For rodent bites to the eye, eye infections, or objects that are embedded directly in the eye, it is best to take the snake to a qualified reptile/exotic pet vet to be treated.

Image of a sliver of wood lodged between the eye and the eye socket of this 2006 anery motley. We aren't certain exactly how the wood chip got stuck inside of her eye that way, but we believe she was burrowing through her substrait. At the time she was being housed on sani-chips. There was no damage done to either the eye, or the eye socket of the snake, so it was just a matter of removing the splinter and monitoring the snake for signs of infection or swelling.

Image of a snake's eye that has scar tissue from a suspected rodent bite:

Coming Soon - Pictures of an infected eye and a retained eye cap.

 

We currently do not have any snakes in the collection that have or have ever had an eye infection. If you have a close up picture of a snake with an eye infection, or know someone who does, and are willing to allow us to post it on this page, please e-mail us.

Thank you,