My leopard gecko's eye is swollen with sand. How do I clean it?

I am so sorry to hear that this is happening to you and Chicken Nugget! Between now and your veterinary visit, the most important thing that you can do is to keep his eyes moist. I am not sure what is in the reptile eye drops that you purchased, so due to this I would recommend that you discontinue their use. This is just in case there is something in the drops that may make the situation worse. I would recommend continuing the saline eye drops, and you can also purchase an over-the-counter eye lubricant. The brand(s) that I recommend are either Optixcare or GenTeal. When you purchase them, please ensure they are the original formulation of both of them, and are not allergy relief or anything else, as these often will have additives that may be irritating to Chicken Nugget's eyes. You can also soak Chicken Nugget on a daily basis - this will help to keep him hydrated. You can put him a lukewarm water bath that is to the level of his chin, but please monitor him to ensure he does not drown. You can do this for 15-20 minutes per day. I hope that gives you a place to start, and I hope he feels better soon!

If she will allow, try rinsing it gently with some sterile saline. This may wash any irritating debris away. If symptoms persist or worsen, have her examined by your veterinarian or a vet experienced in treating reptiles.

I would consider putting her in the bath tub with an inch or so if water and then slowly drizzle some water over her head. Don’t do too much at a time or for too long because we don’t want to drown her. Be patient and take your time . Best of luck and thank you for using Pet Coach.

Thanks for reaching out about Bob. A veterinary visit would be best, but you can try cleaning the eye with a warm, wet, clean washcloth a few times daily. The eye can be irrigated with saline used for contact lenses. Good luck.

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.

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.

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.