Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I know that betadine is a topical aniseptic that kills many types of bacteria and also helps kill germs in mucous membranes. I also know that many eye infections chameleons get are bacterial infections, in which the eye is riddled with mucous.
My chameleon started to have eye problems and would not open his eyes for days. I decided to mix betadine in water and mist his eyes a couple times a day. In about four days his eyes were back to normal. It was not the water misting that helped, because I mist his eyes with plain water regularly and it was not working. I am no veterinarian but I have experience in using betadine to cure iguana infections.
Does anyone have and opinion or know any info about using betadine for chameleons in this manner? Your response is appreciated.

Eye problems are a very common problem in chameleons, and as you said, most causes are bacterial in origin, but other factors are culprits as well: fungal infections, trauma, foreign body, ulcer, etc. Blindly applying an antibacterial substance without knowing what you are treating is really shooting in the dark, especially if the eye "was bad, then got better, and is now bad again". Most likely the infection has now mutated and is resistant (meaning, its made itself stronger).

Some eye bugs are easy to cure; some are very, very difficult. For example, my big Panther male started unexpectedly shutting his eye after his move to his summer cage. My DVM cultured a nasty bug that was luckily sensitive to an easily administered oral antibiotic. Ten days later, Presto! eye is fine with no recurrence. Another Ambanja I just got in as a rescue has an obviously chronicly irritated eye; it cultured again a nasty bug that unfortunately is resistant to what are considered the safer antibiotics. We are hitting the infection with some pretty strong injectable and topical medications but because the eye has been infected for a good length of time before she received the proper antibiotics, the infection is not responding to treatment and unfortunately, it appears the eye will have to be removed to save the cham's life, to prevent the infection from advancing and rupturing the eye-globe and the infection then entering the bloodstream. What is the point? Eye infections can turn into big problems if they are not treated correctly and quickly. In the above scenario, it is highly possible the latter chameleon could be enjoying perfect eyesight right now instead of on the verge of having her eye removed if the eye infection had not been allowed to linger by adopting the "well, its not getting better, so let's see what I have around the house to treat it" attitude. I have never had a closed eye on a chameleon get better "on its own".

Betadine is an iodine-based product as you probably know, and while it is generally considered safe for use around the eye areas, there are many different percentages of povidine manufactured and some are caustic even to bare skin, let alone a delicate eye. Please do not apply Betadine to your cham's eye without consulting a Dr. He or she may very well advise a povidine-based solution as a flush or treatment, but a vet should be consulted for the specific concentration to be administered. Most of the commonly obtained Betadine scrubs and solutions are designed for skin, not eyes. Please consult a vet first! And have him or her culture the eye(s) & turret(s) to see what exactly is growing in there!

~Kerry I.
Licensed Vet. Tech.

where do you get this benadine? i might need to try what you did, my 3 month old ambanja is being wierd with his eyes, he keeps pushing them out like theres something bothing them, ive been using this stuff i got at pet smart -Fluckers Reptile Eye Drops" ive been using it for 3 days now with little results. if you know anything about this let me know thanks

jay

Try a product called Refresh Tears there eye drops for people but work very well on chams with irritated eyes. You can pick them up at just about any drug store. Got mine at Wallgreens.

My jackson does the same thing. Some chameleons do this to sort of wash away any dirt or particles in their eye. My jackson does this on a daily basis ever since I got him last Feb. You don't have anything to worry about if he's just bugging out his eyes and moving them around when you mist him. A closed eye that won't open is what you want to watch out for.

Almost nothing is going to work in a short days! I wouldn't use anything marketed as an eye wash. If you need to clean or flush the eye the easiest and safest thing to use UNTIL YOU SEE A VET is sterile saline contact lense rinse. It is not medicated, but is sterile and will sting less than plain water. Take your cham to a qualified vet, have the eye examined, a culture taken, and the PROPER antibiotic prescribed. You do not want to save money or self medicate an eye...Betadine in an eye? YEOUCH!