Sugalover: If this glider has had too much fat in its
diet regularly, then there is a chance that the glider may have cholesterol (fat) deposits in the corneas of the eyes. The fat deposits usually take on the appearance of white specks if the condition is not too severe. If the condition is severe, you may see only one large whitish area. Refractive light will cause no change in the size of the opacity if the condition is one of cholesterol deposits.
If, on the other hand, the condition is a cataract one, you will normally see a white milky area in the center area of each eye. Cataracts affect the lenses of the eyes and will appear larger or smaller depending on the amount of light being reflected off of the lense at any given time. Cataracts may result from injuries to the eye, inflammation within the eye (uveitis), internal diseases that have an effect on the eye such as diabetes mellitus or protein buildup, and some cataracts are inherited. Although it may be difficult to name the specific cause of a cataract, cataracts that develop in eyes free of signs of ocular disease are assumed to be
inherited.
As for calcium buildup due to overeating, your friend is incorrect that eatting calcium-laden foods will cause a calcium buildup in the eyes. There is, however, a calcific corneal degenerative condition which occurs in dogs but I have never heard of it occurring in a glider. Here is how calcific corneal degeneration occurs:
Calcium is the mineral which makes bones strong. Calcium is in solution in all tissues of the body. It is present in the fluid within the eye (aqueous) and is constantly moving through the corneal tissue from the inside of the cornea (endothelium) to the surface of the cornea (epithelium). Under certain circumstances, the calcium "precipitates out" of solution either just beneath the epithelium or within the stroma. In these circumstances, the epithelium and stroma of the cornea can become whitish. Sometimes the calcium deposits will coalesce and break through the surface and little chips of the deposit can slough off. Alternatively, the calcium may become quite dense immediately beneath the epithelium. If the calcium becomes thick enough, the surface epithelium can no longer remain attached and will "peel off." The sloughing of the calcium or the peeling off of the epithelium will result in an ulcer which can be quite painful.
If an ulcer is present, the ulcer needs to be treated with topically applied antibiotics to prevent infection while the ulcer heals. Additionally, atropine will be administered topically to dilate the pupil and relax the muscles within the eye which go into spasm when an ulcer is present. Pain medication may be given for pain relief to dogs with corneal ulcers. Finally, to help dissolve the calcium, a "chelating agent" such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) will be applied topically several times a day. If the EDTA does not remove the calcium, debridement with a diamond burr or a surgical procedure call a superficial keratectomy may be required. However, as I previously stated, in all of my research, I have not come across any data indicating gliders are subject to this condition.
As for protein buildup, cataracts can be caused by a protein buildup on the surface of the lens of the eye. This normally happens because of a difficulty in digesting proteins properly as people/animals age.
Should you consider taking this glider in? If the glider has cholesterol deposits of the corneas or cataracts, it is doubtful you will incur any medical costs associated with these conditions. The worst you may have to deal with is a blind glider who can have a quality life if you follow some simple rules:
1. Keep all items in the glider's cage in the same place at all times. Re-arranging things may cause disorientation.
2. Only allow the glider access to a totally glider-proofed environment in order to avoid accidents/injuries and always supervise the glider during any playtime within the glider-proofed environment.
3. keep food/water dishes in exactly the same place each and every day.
4) If your glider becomes disoriented, take him to his sleeping pouch or food bowl. This will be a landmark that will re-orient the glider.