Opaque mustard-coloured eye - what the?!

[Finchy]

I have an old Longtail Grassfinch who is probably not much longer for this world, but I was very surprised today to find one eye suddenly opaque and a distinctly mustard yellow colour. It almost looks like his eyeball has been replaced with a yellow millet seed! He is clearly blind in that eye. There's no discharge and the other eye appears normal. What could cause such a symptom? (other than a truly bizarre accident with an actual millet seed!)

[Tiaris]

Husk stuck on?

[TomDeGraaff]

Is the bird distressed or irritated? That could mean a foreign object causing the problem.
If not and the bird being old, could it be a cataract or similar as a result of old age?

[Finchy]

I'd say that yes he is bothered by it, but just looks sulky rather than trying to rub it or resolve any local irritation.

I don't believe it's a cataract because the colouration is over the cornea rather than the lens, and is so opaque, so yellow and so sudden. I may try to catch him and have a look, maybe take a photo if practical.

[Finchy]

OK, here's a video showing both his normal and abnormal eye. There is now (not surprisingly) some minor discharge/moisture from the irritation:

http://youtu.be/FORsh7J19WQ

?

[Niki_K]

How strange- I have a zebbie with the same problem (no discharge). He was fine one week, then I caught him the following week, and found the same thing. No sign of injury or irritation, so my vet nurse friend said not to worry about it unless it starts weeping. He's had it for about 2 months now, with no issues. He behaves normally, and the eye appears blind. It doesn't appear to be contagious, as the other birds in the aviary are unaffected.

[Finchy]

Well well! It's bizarre, isn't it?

Where are our medically-oriented members? I'm so curious to know what kind of organism or injury could produce such an effect.

[SamDavis]

Are you sure its not a seed husk? In the video I just felt I saw it move over the surface as the eye moved beneath.

[branchez]

Are you sure its not a seed husk? In the video I just felt I saw it move over the surface as the eye moved beneath.

I think your right Sam- it does appear to move.
Jack

[Finchy]

I have peered very closely at it and don't think it's a seed husk...but I am far from certain. My next thought is what to do about it if it does prove to be a seed husk - how to get it out? It's so perfectly covering the entire visible eyeball. Any ideas? Tweezers and a steady hand? I would hate, though, to damage the cornea by doing that, in case it's actually something organic and curable.

Niki, did your vet nurse friend see your Zebbie up close, in person, or was it advice at a distance?

Next I think I will get my mini 45X microscope out (coolest device!) and see what that reveals.