Usually, in leopard geckos, the redness of the eyes can be of genetic origins. However, when it comes to crested geckos, there is no possible cross-breeding that causes red eyes.
Therefore, if you notice the eyes of your crested geckos to show signs of redness, you should delve deeper into the matter to find the root cause behind the redness.
This redness of the eyes of your crested gecko may be due to one of 8 possible reasons: foreign irritants, bacterial infection, viral infection, nutritional deficiency, impact injuries, burns due to lighting, enclosure conditions, and reflective surroundings.
Overview Of Healthy Crested Gecko Eyes
If you have been a reptile enthusiast for some time, then you must already be aware of the fact that crested geckos do not have eyelids.
Owing to the absence of eyelids, there really isn’t any external protective mechanism to keep the eyes safeguarded from dust, light, and other irritants.
A healthy set of crested gecko eyes are ones with no signs of redness, swelling, or discharge from the eyes.
The pupils of your crested gecko should also contract and expand adequately depending upon the light intensity inside the enclosure. You should also observe the crested gecko eyes to see for any signs of clouding.
A perfectly healthy set of crested gecko eyes are completely clear, with the pupils being contracted to a slit during the daytime, and expanded adequately during nighttime.
Any signs of redness, discharge, cloudiness, swelling, or visible injury in and around the eyes of your crested gecko should be checked by a vet as soon as possible to ensure that your crested gecko gets the required treatment on time.
You should also check for sunken eyes as that can be a symptom of excessive dehydration or some other underlying health condition that may need immediate medical attention.
Why Do Crested Geckos Get Red Eyes?
As mentioned in the brief above, there are 8 possible reasons why your crested gecko may have developed redness in its eyes.
Here we take a deeper look into what are the causes behind those 8 reasons that give your crested gecko red eyes.
Foreign Irritants
Crested geckos do not have eyelids – this means that it is very possible for foreign irritants such as dust, substrate particles, twigs, and branches from the foliage.
Sometimes even smaller insects like flies may accidentally enter the eyes of your crested gecko. This may be one of the most common causes behind the redness in the eyes of most crested geckos.
Along with the absence of eyelids, even the sheer size of the eyes of a crested gecko, as compared to the relative size of its face, makes the eyes a very easy target for foreign irritants to enter and cause irritation in the conjunctiva and the cornea of your crested gecko’s eyes.
The conjunctiva is the lining of pink tissue that surrounds the inner lids of the eyes.
The cornea, on the other hand, is a thin covering layer on the surface of the eyes – it is the same as the cornea present in the human eyes.
In case a foreign irritant has made its way into the eyes of your crested gecko, you may notice some additional symptoms along with redness, such as excessive tearing, crusty discharge, or sometimes even squinting.
Bacterial Infection
Another more serious reason behind the redness in the eyes of your crested gecko may be a type of bacterial infection called Uveitis.
This infection is basically an inflammation in the middle layers of the eyes of the crested gecko. It can lead to further infections and must be inspected and treated by a vet.
The two most common symptoms of Uveitis are redness in the eyes and blurry vision.
But since redness is a common symptom for other less serious diseases and problems, and the vision of a crested gecko may be hard to judge for the blurriness, the diagnosis of this infection may be a little tricky.
The good news, however, is that this is a very rare infection in crested geckos. If it does happen, it happens as a post-hibernation disease.
Viral Infection
This is another very rare possible reason behind the redness in your crested gecko’s eyes.
The redness of your crested gecko’s eyes may, in rare cases, be a symptom of neoplasia – which in turn has been hypothesized to have viral origins.
The underlying infectious etiology of neoplasia in crested geckos, however, has not yet been rigidly established. So, the possibility of a viral origin is still largely a hypothesis.
Nutritional Deficiency
One indirect reason that eventually leads to redness in the eyes of a crested gecko is the deficiency of vitamin A, also known as hypovitaminosis A.
When your crested gecko is deficient in the amount of vitamin A, it impacts the shedding process. If this condition worsens, it can lead to the build-up of cellular matter under its eyelids.
This cellular matter which is directly below the eyelids then acts as a foreign irritant causing redness in the eyes of your pet crested gecko.
Impact Injuries
If your crested gecko is a very playful kind, who loves to jump around in its enclosure – climbing up and down the branches and running around in the foliage – then impact injuries could be a likely cause behind the redness in your pet crested gecko’s eyes.
When your crested gecko bumps into something or experiences any other kind of impact injury, it may lead to mild abrasion or laceration on the surface of its eyes.
When this happens, it leads to the bursting of the fragile blood vessels and engorged veins – this is what leads to the bloodshot red color of your crested gecko’s eyes.
In this particular case, however, the injuries usually heal themselves independently and the redness subsides in a couple of days.
Burns Due To Lighting In The Enclosure
Depending on the type and duration of lighting that you use in the enclosure of your crested gecko, sometimes some kinds of lights may cause burns that lead to redness in the eyes.
Crested geckos are one of the crepuscular species of geckos and their eyes are very sensitive to light.
This helps them adapt quickly to dim light and have very good vision, especially at nighttime – which is when they are active and out hunting for prey in the wild.
While this sensitivity of eyes is a big boon for crested geckos in the wilderness, in captivity, and in domesticated surroundings, this sensitivity can sometimes lead to accidental eye burns.
Despite all the precautions that you take as a responsible pet owner for your crested gecko, there are times when it may be difficult to exactly imitate the natural lighting of the rainforests that a crested gecko is used, and has evolved to adapt to.
Even some moments of excess UVB or UVC exposure can lead to eye burns in your pet crested gecko. These burns can physically manifest as redness and irritation in your crested gecko’s eyes.
Enclosure Conditions
Enclosure conditions, like humidity, act as an indirect cause behind the redness in the eyes of a crested gecko in captivity.
When the humidity levels of 60% to 80% are not met, it can lead to poor shedding in your crested gecko.
This may in turn lead to a retained shed near the eyes, which may act as foreign irritants and cause redness in the eyes of your pet.
Moreover, if the temperature of the enclosure exceeds the ambient range, the excess heat can lead to heat stroke and dehydration.
Both of these issues are preceded by red bloodshot eyes due to either bursting of the engorged veins by excess heat or drying up of the eyes due to heat and dehydration.
Crested geckos do not have eyelids, and thus, their eyes are at a greater risk of being dried out by excess heat.
Moreover, heat-induced dehydration will further hamper the moistening of their eyes, as they lick their eyes for moisture – but dehydration may make their saliva dry up.
Reflective Surroundings
While this particular reason may seem silly, this is often the case when it comes to redness in the eyes of your crested gecko.
The vast and immense pair of round eyes of your crested gecko is quick to reflect the colors of its surroundings.
This means that sometimes your crested gecko’s eyes may appear to be blue simply because it is placed in a room with blue-tinted windows and is reflecting the color of the tint.
Similarly, if your crested gecko is near the excess plantation, its eyes may look greenish in shade.
For the exact same reasons, sometimes, your crested gecko’s eyes may look red simply because there are too many red objects or some kind of red tint or lighting in the room near its enclosure.
It may help to remove the red tint or light and then recheck if the eyes are still red.
How To Treat Gecko Red Eyes?
There are different reasons why your crested gecko may have developed redness in its eyes.
To treat the red eyes, you need to first observe or have a diagnosis done to find out the root cause behind the redness of the eyes.
Give It Time
If the redness is due to some foreign irritants or due to a small scratch or impact injury, it will heal independently in a couple of days.
All you need to do is observe and monitor the eyes of your crested gecko to ensure that no other problems occur.
Flush The Eyes Of Your Crested Gecko
Take a small bottle of sterile saline solution with a dropper and flush the eyes of your crested gecko once or twice a day.
Consult A Vet
If the redness in the eyes does not subside in a few days, it may be a good idea to consult a vet to find out the underlying problem.
Should You Take It To The Vet?
Here are a few pointers to check if you should be going to a vet:
- The redness of the eyes has not subsided in a few days.
- Flushing the eyes with sterile saline solution isn’t working.
- Your crested gecko is showing additional symptoms such as loss of appetite or visible signs like retained shed near the eyes.
How To Prevent Your Crested Gecko From Getting Red Eyes?
A few proactive and preventive measures can help you protect your crested gecko from having red eyes:
- Ensure that the enclosure settings, i.e., the humidity, temperature, and lighting are in the ambient range and comfortable for your crested gecko.
- Take proper care while handling your pet.
- Flush its eyes with sterile saline solution if you notice redness or some foreign irritants in the eyes.
- In case of any kind of discharge, retained shed, or visible scratches or injuries are observed, consult a vet.
Conclusion
Redness in the eyes of your pet crested gecko is a cause of concern – but it can be prevented with a few simple and proactive preventive measures.
Moreover, with proper enclosure settings, the chances of redness or any irritation in the eyes get reduced.
Having regular health checkups at the vet will also help you properly monitor the eyes and overall health of your crested gecko.
