Bearded dragons are hardy lizards, but from time to time, problems may arise. In this post, we will talk about bearded dragon eye problems, inability to open one or both eyes, eye infections and discharge, why bearded dragons close their eyes and more.
Bearded dragon will not open eyes – causes
There can be multiple reasons on why your bearded dragon can’t open its eye or eyes. If your bearded dragon is only squinting, then the cause might be either temporary or a sign of a starting disease. Causes of squinting or having one eye closed can be following:
- Dehydration
- Scratches or damage to cornea due to very bright light, wrong lighting, small particles, dust, infection
- An accidental injury due to a fall or scratching against branches and other accessories (make sure there are no sharp edges)
- Shedding problems around the eye
- Eyelid swelling due to retained shed or lack of vitamins
- Mites
- Bites, for example cricket or cage mate bites
- If your bearded dragon doesn’t open its eye(s), is lethargic, listless, doesn’t eat or drink, it could be very sick.
To address the problem, think about any recent changes and examine the eye.
Dehydration
Could your bearded dragon be dehydrated? Sunken eyes, skin that won’t go back to normal quickly if you pinch it, constipation, lip licking, slimy saliva, lethargy are all signs of dehydration.
Offer water drops of water to your bearded dragon’s mouth. You can even use a water dispenser for reptiles like this. This is because bearded dragons don’t tend to drink water from a bowl, but become interested in moving water. If your bearded dragon isn’t drinking any water, you can offer some diluted juice for flavor, too.
Dust, loose substrate or other small objects
Also, start paying attention to any dust or other loose particles that might get in the eye. Do you use loose substrate? Remove any loose substrate from the tank and use the paper towels or reptile carpet like this instead. Make sure there is no dust in the tank, either.
Some bearded dragons squint when loose substrate gets in the eye, and can even bulge it to help remove it. Believe it or not, even small food pieces can get stuck in your bearded dragon’s eyes!
In this case, you can use reptile drops like this to help remove any foreign objects from the eye. Some drops even have mild antibacterial properties, to help with any possible infection if there is any. Loose particles can cause small scratches to cornea, and you must be careful in this case!
Do not wash your bearded dragon’s eye with tap water if you think there is a small scratch. Tap water is not completely sterile and can easily cause an infection.
Instead, keep using reptile drops – you can alternate between antibacterial reptile eye wash and simple saline eye wash until it gets better. Turtle eye drops are also good to use for your dragon.
Mites
Check the eye, around the eye and the lid for any mites (often small red or black dots hiding around the eye), pus, crust and other discharge. If there is any discharge, then this is an infection.
Wrong lighting
Wrong lighting can also cause your bearded dragon to have its eye closed. Please review the lighting setup in the cage and make any changes that could cause your bearded dragon to squint or avoid the basking area specially due to wrong lighting.
Bearded dragons need a powerful source of UVB (UVB 10.0-12.0, often T5, also called HO – High output lighting like this). It is the best to install the tube light that would go across the tank. ReptiSun is one of the most reputable reptile brands for lighting.
Please make sure that the tank is bigger than 20-25 gallons to set up a tube light. Otherwise, it can be too hard to achieve correct temperatures and gradient and the light can be too bright.
Please do not get coiled bulbs, full-spectrum lights made for plants or people. Coiled bulbs can be too strong, especially if you place them too close to your dragon. They are too small to distribute the UVB evenly throughout the larger surface. Some bulbs are also fake/cheap, and can damage your bearded dragon’s eyes if used for a long time.
If you used the coiled bulb, especially in a smaller tank, then it could damage the eyes. Turn off the UVB lighting for 2-4 days to see if it helps your bearded dragon’s eyes.
Also, make sure not to use very bright lighting in the room where the tank is, that can make your bearded dragon uncomfortable and squint. Make sure that basking light is not too bright, either.
Stuck shed and low humidity
If your bearded dragon has been shedding, is there any retained shed around the eye? You can help remove it with a soft cotton bud/pad soaked in water.
When your bearded dragon is shedding, it is also shedding around the eye. There can be stuck shed around the eye – for example on the eyelid.
Bearded dragons tend to rub themselves against various objects to help remove the shedding skin. If there is any skin around the eye that is bothering your bearded dragon, it can rub the eye area too hard or against a sharp object, and injure the eye or the lid itself.
When your bearded dragon starts shedding, it is always a good idea to help it shed around the eye. Soak cotton pads or a small cloth with warm water, and place on the eye for few minutes.
Also, bathing your bearded dragon few times a week during the shedding can greatly help shed evenly and fully. You can even use an emollient shedding aid for reptiles like this that helps with shedding.
Also check the humidity in the tank – if it’s below 20%, you might consider adding a bigger water bowl or placing a water dispenser in the tank. You can also mist your bearded dragon few times a week. Ideal humidity for a bearded dragon is between 30-40%.
Bites
Also as discussed, crickets that hide in the tank get hungry and can attack your bearded dragon, biting it. Please make sure to remove any uneaten crickets after 20 minutes of feeding. Always double check if there are any crickets hiding in the tank before you go to sleep.
Cage mates can also fight and injure each other. It is a good idea to keep each bearded dragon separately, as each bearded dragon needs its space (40-55 gallon for each adult). Bearded dragons also compete for basking spots and food.
Sickness
Your bearded dragon could be sick if it lays a lot, doesn’t eat or drink much and doesn’t open its eyes. This can be caused by wrong living conditions – lighting, heating, humidity, diet, caging and so on.
Having eyes closed is often a sign of an illness that is either serious, or has been going on for a long time. If your dragon is listless, its bones and jaw seem soft, then it could be suffering from a Metabolic Bone Disease. Shaking is also a sign of MBD.
Impaction, infection, egg-binding and many other illnesses can make your bearded dragon seriously ill.
You can read a full post on bearded dragon illnesses in this post.
Clogged nasal cavity
If you can see any swelling around the nose and eye area, then you could help by washing the nasal cavity to remove any mucus. For this, take a syringe and cut its needle to make a small hole.
Then, use sandpaper or something similar to remove sharp sides. Fill the syringe with cooled boiled water and spray directly in the nose.
Vitamin deficiency
Vitamin deficiency can cause eye problems in bearded dragons. This is especially true for vitamin A deficiency. Make sure to include foods that contain vitamin A (some carrots, green leafy greens, sweet potatoes etc.). Also, don’t forget about dusting the bugs with pure calcium & multivitamins on separate days.
If the deficiency is serious, then your bearded dragon might have problems with opening its eye, worsening vision, dry eyes. Please take your bearded dragon to the vet for a test and vitamin A injections in severe deficiencies.
You can find all about supplementing your bearded dragon’s food in this post.
How long can it take for a bearded dragon’s eyes to get better?
It can take around one week-four weeks for your bearded dragon’s eyes to heal. If it was only a small foreign object that you wash out, then your dragon will feel better straight away. In case of scratches or infections, it will depend on how quickly you realize the problem and administer any treatment.
Bearded dragon eye infection – eye discharge, pus, crust, gunk
If your bearded dragon has eye discharge, then it can be an eye infection. Whenever you notice any discharge from your bearded dragon’s eye, take it to a vet so they can examine your dragon’s eye and see if there is any damage to an actual eye and what type of infection it is.
The vet will take a swab for a culture test to see if viruses or bacteria are causing the infection. Then, the vet will prescribe antibiotics or other medication.
Do not try to treat your bearded dragon for an eye infection at home, this is a serious issue and requires medication in most cases. Delaying the treatment can cause the infection to spread from one eye to another.
Bearded dragon watery eye
If your bearded dragon’s eye is watering, then it could be some foreign objects in the eye. This could be sand, dust or other particles. In this case, wash your bearded dragon’s eye with an eye wash and it should help.
You can also use a simple saline solution to wash the eye and see if any foreign objects come out. Make sure it is pure saline eye wash with nothing added, and not a contact lens solution!
Also, the eye could be watering because of mild conjunctivitis – inflammation of the front layer of the eye caused by bacteria or viruses. Conjunctivitis often causes a pink eye too, or some red capillaries to show in the eye. In this case, apply some antibacterial drops to your bearded dragon’s eye. You can buy reptile or turtle eye drops.
You can also try a home remedy if your bearded dragon seems to have a mild conjunctivitis or a tiny scratch in the eye. Dilute some honey in water (1:4) and apply to the eyelashes with a Q-tip. Honey naturally has antibacterial properties to it. Antibiotics might still be necessary if there is an infection.
Bearded dragon’s eye fully shut?
If your bearded dragon’s eye cornea has been scratched with a foreign object, then it might not be able to open the eye at all. In this case, you need to help remove the foreign object from the eye. This is only if your dragon’s eye looks normal, is not swollen and there is no discharge.
To do this, please soak the cotton disc with some saline solution and rub the eye gently, to help remove the dust, sand or other loose particle. Once your bearded dragon can open the eye, you can proceed to wash the eye for a bit longer.
If you can see any blood around the eye, then it could be a bite or accidental injury. For example, if your bearded dragon has cage mates, then they could injure your bearded dragon or bite it. In this case, also wash your bearded dragon’s eye and let it heal. If you start seeing any discharge from the eye, then this could be an infection.
Bearded dragon swollen eyes – causes
If your bearded dragon’s eye is very swollen, then it’s a serious issue. Eye swelling in bearded dragons might be caused by various things, and you need to address this as soon as possible. Any infections or other issues around the head area are especially dangerous, and you must treat it as soon as possible.
At this stage, please don’t try treating your bearded dragon at home. If your bearded dragon’s eye is swollen, then request a blood test, culture swab and even an X-Ray. The swollen eye can be caused by:
- Infection that spread deeper. Please request a test to determine what is causing the infection. Do not use antibiotics if you are not sure that it is a bacterial infection. This infection can even be behind the eye socket.
- Tumor
- Blocked tear ducts
- Weak blood vessels leading to bulges inside of them
Why do bearded dragons close their eyes?
Your bearded dragon can close its eyes to shut off, and this is a protective mechanism. Bearded dragons close their eyes (similarly to iguanas for example) when petting, to protect their eyes from any possible injury.
Of course, your bearded dragon can also close its eyes when you are petting it for a long time, if it relaxes so much and starts falling asleep. Bearded dragons also close their eyes when they sleep.
If your bearded dragon is closing its eyes when basking, then it could be too close to the light. UVB light could also be too strong, that it makes your bearded dragon close its eyes. But if your bearded dragon is generally relaxed and doesn’t seem to be squinting, then closing eyes while basking is normal in bearded dragons.