Blind iguana

[beatriz]

Hi everyone. So yesterday i was at my sister's house when my mother called me saying that Lyanna (my 1 year old iguana) wasn't good and that she was bleeding from her both eyes and that her eyes looked like has blown. At that time i was really conserned because i really didn't knew what happened so i imediattly went home to see Lyanna. When i arrived home she was so bad from her eyes and i cried seeing Lyanna in that way.
My mother don't know what happened to her. Lyanna can freely walk on my room and enter and get out of her cage when she wants because the door is always open. I dont like to see her locked all day so i let her walk when she wants. I live in a farm so i have a lot of space and she goes out sometimes with me take a sun and some baths when its hot. I feed her with vegetables mostly cabbage but also cress because she really likes a lot. I give her fruit once a week, sometimes grapes, other apple and seasonal fruits. I have the propper lights for her (heating Light and UVA and UVB lamp). She looks really healthy but yesterday when my mother went to my room she saw Lyanna paralyzed at the floor with her eyes out and bleeding.
We dont really know what happened and we still to trynna figure it out.
We took her to vet and she took analyzes and there is everything normal with her, she is healthy and all the levels are ok but the vet says that she is blind and that theres no way she can see again. She is taking eyes drops and antibiotic for a week and if her eyes dont dry she will need cirurgy to take them of.
I feel really bad because i feel like i havent take good care of her and now she needs special care. There is anyone that have experience with blind iguanas? Can you please give me some advice? Today she didnt wanted to eat, i have tried everything. I dont know if its because she is taking antibiotic or because she is feeling pain or even because she is really stressed because she cant see.
I have searched a lot but i cant find many things talking about blind iguanas and the cares to take with them. My biggest fear is that she cant adapt because she cant see and live a really sad life or when she grows up she become agressive because she cant see and for instinct bites me or my mother.
Can she leaves well without seeing anything? Or is she abble to climb, etc and live longer? Her cage is a bit big, should i put her in a smaller one?
Thank you all and i really hope that you can help me because i cant find nothing that can help me and Lyanna.

[JennaAndIguanaGwen]

Apologies on the late response!

I personally have not had experience with a blind iguana but there are some things you can do for now that will help her.
I'm glad you brought her to the vet quickly, that is always the best choice in matters like this.

I would definitely limit her roaming capabilities and create a mostly flat enclosure for her with nothing to fall off of. No more roaming. Since she is blind falling is going to be a big concern. Iguana's are not the most graceful creatures even when they can see. Make sure she still has a range of temperatures to go to (70-95 degrees) so she doesn't overheat but of course can bask in the UVB. The enclosure doesn't have to be completely flat but make it so if she does fall it won't be any more than 6 inches to a foot to avoid injury.

Cabbage should only be fed occasionally but watercress is a staple green that can be fed daily. I would recommend taking a look at the food chart here: tesa.proboards.com/thread/3578/food-chart . For food, you may have to hand feed her for a while if she isn't eating (just watch out she can't see where the food ends and your fingers begin!). Going blind is going to be a huge stressor for her and she may not want to eat anything right now but it's important that she does. Make sure she is drinking as well. Often I would mist my iguana, Gwendolyn, with a spray bottle and she would start drinking the water droplets on her face. Something like this may help keep her hydrated. You may even be able to simply spray some water in her mouth. When leaving food out for her adding some good smelling fruits/berries like bananas and strawberries (what ever her favorites might be) may be beneficial for her to identify that there is tasty edible food near her.

I can't say how she will handle the stress of being blind but I hope she recovers and does well! I would be curious to know how she is doing and get updates.

best of luck,
Jenna