Is it normal for bearded dragons to bulge their eyes after closing?

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.

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.

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.

It is difficult to determine due to the lighting/color of the image. Pythons eyes will bulge out a bit and some have a genetic defect that causes pronounced bulging. This is not normal. Monitor for discharge, cloudiness or redness. If the bulging is just on one side, that is also cause for concern (tumor, trauma, infection) and should be addressed by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles.

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!

It may be stress related. Survey the area around his enclosure for any negative stimuli. Massage his abdomen during the baths to stimulate defecation in case he's a bit constipated. If the behavior persists or if he develops any lethargy or loss of appetite, then have him examined by your herp veterinarian.

Check the humidity level. For beardies, it should range between 30 and 40%. Too high or too low can predispose Jank to infection or shedding complications. If a 20-30 minute warm compress doesn't help, have him examined by your veterinarian or experienced herp vet. A physical exam may diagnose or rule out abscess/infection or tumor. In either case, you'll need a vet to dispense medication or to pursue additional diagnostics (blood work, biopsy, aspirate, etc).