Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My tree frog has had a white film over his eye for quite some time now, and it has just continued to get bigger. His whole eye is covered, and over time it has started to spread to the other eye. No veterinarian knows what to do. I've even talked with an eye doctor and a professor of biology about this. Can someone please help me with this? Does anyone have any suggestions to make it better? Medications? Remedies? I'm hoping someone will be able to relate to this. I'm afraid he's going to die because of this, so I appreciate the help. Thanks!!

First to start we need to know a little bit about your husbandry. What are your temperatures, humidity levels...etc.
What kind of frog is this, what are you feeding it. Is this film OVER the eye or in the pupil (the black inner part).

My frog is in a 10-gallon aquarium with reptile sand for the bottom. There is a small pond inside using bottle spring water. I use a 40 watt lamp above the aquarium which is used mainly in the winter months on and off. He's approximately 7 years old and just this last year developed a thick white film over the entire eye. There is a hazy film beginning in the other eye. He eats crickets mainly, and occasionally angle worms in the summer. Hope this helps, and I appreciate any help anyone can offer.

"He's approximately 7 years old and just this last year developed a thick white film over the entire eye. There is a hazy film beginning in the other eye."

Is it OVER the eye or IN the eye? If it's in the eye, it could be similar to dogs and horses who simply go blind from it, not fatal but you have to assist the animal more. (and I'm not sure how a blind frog would fare, in terms of jumping and finding food and water)

If it's an actual film on top of the eye that's covering it...well I can't help there. Maybe you could post some pics of it too, that might help.

Good luck!
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0.1.0 Normal Leopard Gecko: Mala Ala
2.1.0 White's Tree Frogs: Wabo, Chabo, and Mushu
0.1.0 Bearded Dragon: Igor
5.0.0 Betas: Ghost, Fruity, Misty, Assasin, and Cobalt

Also, I think he is a larger Cuban tree frog, possibly from Florida. Thank you.

Why are you keeping it on reptile sand?

I'm not sure about the reptile sand I guess. That is what the pet store told me to do. Any other suggestions? This frog came to me by accident on a plant shipment from Florida. I tried to rescue him, and for many years he has faired fine. What is best to keep on the bottoms of your frog's home? Thanks for the help! And regarding the film on his eye--it is mostly covering the eye. It's hard to tell if it's just IN the eye. On the eye where the film is just starting, it looks like it's inside. But on the eye that is completely covered, it just looks like a thick blanket over it. Perhaps it's a little of both--in and over the eye. Who knows where the origination began. Thanks everyone for all your help and please keep any suggestions coming. I greatly appreciate it. Thank you.

You can use bedabeast or similar product for tree frogs as a substrate. Post a pic of the frog's eye if you can

Well since I really can't tell what your dealing with he best suggestion I have is clean out you tank. I mean meticulously. I use a 1 to (1 part bleach to 10 parts water solution) of bleach to disenfect my tanks (scrubbing the sides with a clean washrag). RINSE ALOT. I can't say that enough. Rinse repeat, repeat etc. Get rid of the sand completly, aside from being abrasive--which might have led to the eye issue, it can harbor ALOT of bacteria and littly nasty germies. Replace the bed litter with Bed-a-Beast (should be available in a brick at your local petstore) but at this point even wet dow newspaper (black, no color) would be better than the sand.

Do more research on you froggie, find out his humidity and heat needs as well as tank size, change as needed.

As for the eye, I would need to see it to help, Its possible he's got a nasty eye infection. If you have taken him to a reptile vet they should be able to perscribe some to or anti biotic to help clear this. They will need to culture the eye (sample swap it) and look under a microscope to find out what kind of bacteria it is your dealing with. I have heard tetracycline works wonders, but only use this after you have gone to a vet to determine the real problem.

I work in a exotic vet office, e-mail me if you need any more advice, I can ask my doctor.

When you take it to the vet also get them to check for corneal lipidosis.

See the pic below.

Ed

That looks EXACTLY like my frog's eye! Is that your frog? I've looked up corneal lipidosis and found some information, mostly about dogs and cats. Do you know any more about this? If this is your frog, what do you do for it? I guess there's not much that can be done? Thank you!!!!!

P.S. I will be taking the advice about the bedding, ect. also. Thanks much. Any more help is of course extremely appreciated.

Corneal lipidosis is fat deposits on the eyes of the frogs, this is currently believed to be due to the fat contained in the feeder insects commonly used to feed the frogs. As far as I know it is incurable and will progress until the frog is totally blind. Some frogs will will learn to accept food via touch (either on the foot or on the mouth) but will be unable to see where they can jump or move to. I have seen it in a number of anurans primarily in females.

Ed