Why is my bearded dragon closing one eye? Is something serious wrong?

Thank you for reaching out about your beardie, and thank you for the photos - they are very helpful. It looks like your dragon's beard is quite black in the photos - this can be an indication of underlying stress. This is especially true if it is black on a regular basis. Additionally, excessive closing of the eyes can be an indication of weakness or illness. Unfortunately, reptiles are very good at hiding their illness so it can be challenging as an owner to be able to recognize that they don't feel well until they are very sick. Often it is recognized when their appetite decreases or stops altogether. I would recommend having your dragon evaluated by a veterinarian. They can perform a thorough examination and can also discuss husbandry for your dragon. A large majority of issues that occur with reptiles are related to husbandry, and sometimes it is something that is seemingly minor that ends up causing a big issue. I hope this gives you a place to start, and that your beardie feels better soon.

Thank you for reaching out about Charizard, and for including photos - they are very helpful. I wanted to verify that this is the same eye? The reason I ask is that the second photo looks like one is of the right eye and one is of the left eye (unless you inverted the image when posting). Based on the darker appearance of the material and the sagging of the area, it makes me suspicious that there may be an issue with some retained shed skin, or there could be an issue with the eyelids themselves. This should be evaluated by a veterinarian as they will be able to look at the area with some magnification, which may help to determine exactly what the problem is in the area. Due to the decrease in appetite, they can also provide a husbandry evaluation. I would use caution with trying to treat this at home, as due to Charizard's small size, it would be easy to accidentally traumatize the eye. I hope this gives you a place to start, and that Charizard feels better soon!

Monitor for swelling, discharge or squinting/keeping it closed. These could be symptoms of infection or injury. If you can include a clear picture in her profile or posted with another question, we may be able to better ascertain if an exam with your veterinarian is indicated.

Sometimes, the eyes will appear bulged just before shedding. This happens to both eyes though, not just one. Spyro's eye appears to be infected. This can be due to trauma, retained shed or foreign body (sand, wood, etc.). Ideally, Spyro should be examined by your veterinarian or an experienced herp veterinarian. The eye can be stained to diagnose corneal injury and flushed to remove any debris. If there is a retained eye cap, the vet may be able to remove it.

If it is just one eye, it may be infection. Other potential cause can be vitamin A deficiency (or overdose). If her eye appears "droopy", it may be a symptom f kidney disease. A pending shed may affect the eyes. Have her examined by your herp vet to determine cause and for treatment if necessary. In the meantime, you can try rinsing the eye with plain saline to rinse out any substrate or foreign body.

Thanks for reaching out about Chipp and including photos. There is definately something wrong with the eye and a veterinary visit is recommended. It appears as if the eye is possible deflated, possibly due to a rupture. This could be painful and become infected. A veterinary visit is highly recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Remove any substrate in the enclosure that can stick or contaminate the eye. Clean cloths or Repti-carpet work well. Good luck.

Thanks for reaching out about Lucas and including photos. A lesion is not noted on the pictures but try providing a warm water soak for 5-10 minutes to possibly dislodge any ocular foreign bodies. If the problem persists, a veterinary visit is recommended to assess for possible corneal trauma, ocular foreign body, indications of infections and others. Good luck.