Bubble in Eye

[webmelton]

I have blue throat trigger with a distinct air pocket in his eye. It is between the pupil and lens. He had been in a hospital tank getting anibotic (gram positive and negative) treatment for pop-eye.

Eating and acting fine otherwise.

 

[MnFish1]

I do not think there is a magic cure - except what you're doing. I would avoid handling the fish - to avoid further eye damage. Did you QT the fish? If so - with what? Is there any other information/history you can give

 

[webmelton]

I do not think there is a magic cure - except what you're doing. I would avoid handling the fish - to avoid further eye damage. Did you QT the fish? If so - with what? Is there any other information/history you can give

He was fully QTed. He was in the main tank for 6 months I watched him ram his eye into the rock, so I am pretty sure that caused it.

 

[MnFish1]

He was fully QTed. He was in the main tank for 6 months I watched him ram his eye into the rock, so I am pretty sure that caused it.

I was thinking - it was injury as compared to a 'disease'. I would complete a 10 day course of the antibiotics and re-release into the display tank. There are a number of possible things that could happen - from losing the eye - to gradual healing)

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have blue throat trigger with a distinct air pocket in his eye. It is between the pupil and lens. He had been in a hospital tank getting anibotic (gram positive and negative) treatment for pop-eye.

Eating and acting fine otherwise.

While this can and may have stemmed from injury, it is often confused with gas bubble issue but rather injury trauma in which this fish is a prime candidate often startled and diving into rock crevices. It is unknown why this happens after head trauma but the fish ends up with bubbles inside the eye . Agree as MnFish, indicated, there is no specific treatment for this issue other than waiting it out to see if air bubble gets reabsorbed OR if the situation gets worse resulting in loss of eye. I have a Bangaii cardinal with similar situation which ended up losing the eye and behaves and eats normal.
At times, a given fish gets these bubbles from bacterial growth as a result of eye infection which seldom occurs as first sign would be cloudiness. While maracyn which is ethromyacin treats eye injuries, it may or may not help this circumstance but you can sure try it

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

He was fully QTed. He was in the main tank for 6 months I watched him ram his eye into the rock, so I am pretty sure that caused it.

If only one eye is involved, it is usually from mechanical damage. If both eyes are involved and/or you see pockets of air in the fins, then it could be supersaturation, and that would affect all of the fish more or less.

People often think removing the gas with a needle will help, but I've tried that many, many times and it never worked for me long term. I even made a little pressure chamber. That would reduce the swelling, but when the pressure was released, the bubble just come back.

In some cases, the fish loses the eye. In a few cases, the gas is resorbed.

Aquarium Fish: The ‘Eyes’ Have it: A Review of Eye Health in Aquarium Fishes

Aquarists need to inspect their fish closely every day, for signs of impending health problems. It is much easier to resolve a problem when it first starts, than to attempt a drastic emergency treatment when the fish is close to dying.

reefs.com

Jay