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Why is my leopard gecko's eye bloody and won't open after shedding?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Hi, my leopard gecko has not been opening his eye for almost a month now, I assume he has some remaining eye caps in his eyes, he will open his eyes when I pick him up and it's all white. But since yesterday, I bought the zoomed repti shedding aid for the eye caps removal and sprayed on his eye. Today he left eye remains the same condition, but his right eye appears to have blood on it and he cannot open it fully, I don't know what happened to him and what to do

4 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

Angel Alvarado, LVT

Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Published on April 15th, 2018

Place him in a warm, moist hide or container for about 30 minutes. Make sure there is adequate ventilation and that he doesn't get too cold. This should help remove the eye caps. Geckos usually have problems with the eyelid liner, not caps like snakes. If this is the case or if the cloudiness persists, have him examined by your vet or an experienced herp vet.
Vote Icon6Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Related Answers from Veterinarians

  • Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

    Licensed Veterinary Technician

    Published on March 29th, 2016

    Leopard geckos don't shed their eyes like snakes, so it won't be a retained shed (eye cap). They do shed their eyelids and this skin can sometimes get stuck and cause irritation. Place him in a humid hide (make sure he can breath) for about 20 minutes. Afterwards, use a moistened cotton swab to GENTLY remove the skin. If it doesn't come, don't force it. Schedule an exam with a herp vet to remove it and to rule out infection or trauma.

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    41Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

    Licensed Veterinary Technician

    Published on August 31st, 2021

    This could be a bit of shed skin or the eyelid shed that has gotten stuck on the eye. Leopard geckos shed the skin on the eyelids but not over the eyes (eye caps). Occasionally, some shed can stick.
    Try soaking him in some warm water or placing him in a warm, humid hide ( make sure there is air flow) for 15-20 minutes. Afterwards, use a moistened cotton swab to gently dislodge it. Do not pull or force it in any way. If it won't come off, have him seen by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles.

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    1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

  • Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

    Licensed Veterinary Technician

    Published on April 5th, 2017

    Try soaking Gretchen in a warm water bath for 20-30 minutes. Use a moist cotton swab to gently wipe the eye cap off her eye. Don't force it if it does not move. Continue frequent soaks and misting to soften the cap and try wiping it with the swab or use fine tweezers.
    Mist her enclosure to raise the humidity and provide a moist hide during sheds to prevent retained eye caps in the future.
    If you can't remove it, have her seen by your veterinarian or an experienced herp veterinarian.

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    4Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Health & Wellness
Why won't my leopard gecko eat and has a closed eye after shedding?
He may have a retained eye cap which could be the cause of those symptoms. Check temps in the cage. Low temps may affect appetite and activity in reptiles. Soak him in a warm 50/50 solution of water and unflavored PediaLyte for 15-20 minutes. This will provide warmth and may treat or prevent minor dehydration. It may also help is he has any residual shed. You can also massage his abdomen, front to back, during the soak to stimulate defecation. I see you use sand as a substrate, so an impaction is always a concern. Pick up some Fluker's Repta Boost or Oxbow Carnivore Care from the local pet store. This is a better option than baby food. If he doesn't start eating in the next few days or if the eye does not improve, have him seen by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles.
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My gecko's eye is covered after shedding. What's wrong, how to help?
Thanks for reaching out about Draco and including a photo. Vitamin A deficiencies are common in geckos and can lead to secondary opportunistic ocular infections. Insects need to be properly gut loaded to provide a more appropriate diet than plain crickets or mealworms can provide. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide ophthalmic antibiotics and a possible vitamin A injection. Continue to clean with moistened soft towel but this is not a cure. There are other possibilities such as a scratched cornea or other trauma. Good luck.
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Training & Behavior
My gecko's eye has a film and bubble. Is this a retained shed?
This looks like it may be a retained eyelid lining from an improper shed. It would be best to have him examined by a vet. Eyes are very delicate and you can really damage the eyeball if you treat him incorrectly at home.
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My leopard gecko has stuck shed after its first time. What to do?
You can soak him in a warm bath for 15-30 minutes to aid in shedding. Also, provide a moist hide on each side of the tank during sheds. This is done by adding moistened moss to the hide. The increased humidity aids in shedding. Do not pull any loose shed off by hand. That may cause injury.
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Vet Q & A
My crested gecko has cloudy eyes, stuck shed, and shedding after UVB?
Crested geckos don't "need" UVB lighting as long as they are fed a diet adequate in vitamin D3. Soak or mist him with warm water to help facilitate shedding. The cloudiness may be related to the shed or it may be due to infection or trauma. An exam with your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles would be recommended if the cloudiness does not resolve after the shed is complete.
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Vet Q & A
My gecko has shed stuck in his eye and won't be handled. What now?
You really need to take Mercutio to a veterinarian. He is VERY thin and does not appear healthy at all. The vet can safely remove the shed. Honestly, though, the shed is the least of his problems. http://birminghamveterinaryclinic.com/
Updated on September 23rd, 2025
Health & Wellness
Why is my leopard gecko's eye cloudy, stuck shut, and bubbly?
Thanks for reaching out about Duck. A cloudy eye could be an infection, trauma, glaucoma and other. A veterinary visit is recommended to assess and provide a diagnostic/treatment plan. Vitamin A deficiencies in the diet need to be corrected through gut loading of insects. Antibiotics ophthalmic drops and anti-inflammatories could also be beneficial. Good luck.
Updated on September 23rd, 2025

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