Turtle Conjunctivitis

If your turtle’s eyelids are red, puffy, or stuck shut, you are witnessing a critical failure in its care. This severe ocular inflammation, the reptile equivalent of conjunctivitis, is overwhelmingly caused by a fatal Vitamin A deficiency in its diet. Ignoring this swelling risks not only permanent blindness and secondary infection but signals a dangerous, systemic nutritional crisis that can lead to kidney failure and death.

Ocular swelling in turtles is a severe symptom, primarily caused by Hypovitaminosis A (Vitamin A deficiency).
The inflammation of the eyelids and the delicate membranes mimics conjunctivitis but is a nutritional emergency.
Symptoms include severely swollen, bulbous eyelids, refusal to eat and prolonged hiding.

Why Does My Turtle Develop Conjunctivitis?

Ocular problems in turtles are overwhelmingly a husbandry crisis. The number one cause of swollen eyelids is Hypovitaminosis A (Vitamin A deficiency). Vitamin A is essential for the health of all mucous membranes, including the glands in the eyelids. When deficient, these tissues thicken, swell and malfunction, making them highly susceptible to infection. Secondary causes include unsanitary water (high bacteria load), physical trauma (from sharp objects or cage mates) and systemic illness that compromises the immune system.

Types of Turtle Conjunctivitis

The types of ocular swelling are classified by the cause, with nutritional deficiency being the most critical:

Hypovitaminosis A Ocular Disease

Cause: A severe, chronic lack of Vitamin A in the diet (common in turtles fed only meat, feeder fish, or low-quality pellets).

Impact: Causes proliferative swelling of the eyelids, often sealing them shut. This prevents the turtle from seeing or eating, leading to rapid starvation. This is a sign of systemic organ damage.

Infectious Ocular Swelling

Cause: Bacterial infection (e.g., Pseudomonas) invading the irritated or traumatized eyelid tissues.

Impact: Presents with redness, discharge and inflammation. Often occurs secondary to the swelling caused by Vitamin A deficiency, complicating treatment.

Traumatic Ocular Disease

Cause: Injury from another turtle, sharp tank decor, or inappropriate substrate.

Impact: Usually unilateral (one eye) swelling or a visible scratch on the corneal surface. Requires immediate attention to prevent bacterial infection.

Symptoms: Critical Indicators Your Turtle is Starving

Swollen eyes mean your turtle cannot see its food. This is an immediate threat of starvation and systemic failure.

Severely Swollen Eyelids

The eyelids are bulbous, puffy, or grossly swollen shut, often obscuring the entire eye.

Refusal to Eat (Anorexia)

The turtle ignores all food, as it cannot see to hunt or eat, leading to rapid weight loss.

Prolonged Hiding

The turtle avoids basking and hides constantly due to discomfort and an inability to navigate.

Soft Tissue Swelling

Swelling may be noted in other mucous membrane areas, such as the skin around the ears (aural abscesses) or inside the mouth.

Lethargy and Weakness

Severe lack of energy and failure to move or swim normally, signaling advanced systemic illness.

White or Yellow Discharge

Thick, pus-like material may be visible seeping from the corners of the closed eyes (indicating secondary infection).

Prevention & Turtle Care

Balanced Diet

Feed a quality commercial pelleted diet (at least 25% of the meal) combined with Vitamin A-rich fresh vegetables (e.g., sweet potato, carrot shreds).

Water Quality

Maintain impeccable water quality with powerful filtration and regular cleaning to prevent bacterial buildup that exploits compromised tissues.

Wound Care Compliance

Follow the vet’s instructions precisely regarding flushing and managing the surgical wound to prevent the abscess from recurring.

Medication Adherence

Strictly follow all instructions for antibiotic drops and assisted feeding until the turtle can see and eat normally.

Vision Monitoring

Track the turtle’s ability to hunt accurately once the swelling subsides to ensure full vision has returned.

Turtle Conjunctivitis FAQ

No. Once the swelling is severe, the turtle cannot see to eat the carrots. The deficiency is too profound and requires injectable Vitamin A from a vet to be reversed.

While Vitamin A toxicity is possible, deficiency is exponentially more common and is the classic cause of bilateral (both eyes) swelling.

No. Reversal of the epithelial damage is slow. It can take weeks after the injection for the swelling to noticeably subside, but the process of healing has started.

You can't. Do not attempt to force-feed. The turtle is too weak and attempting to force food risks fatal aspiration. It requires professional tube-feeding.

Not directly. The underlying deficiency is not contagious, but the secondary bacterial infection is often caused by pathogens found in unsanitary water.