Are Hamsters Blind? - Pets Collector

Hamsters make the perfect low-maintenance pet. Unfortunately, these adorable creatures don’t see very well. But are they blind?

Hamsters are not blind. However, they are severely short-sighted and color-blind. Most hamsters can only see 4 inches (10 centimeters) beyond their nose. Some breeds, such as albino and Robo hamsters, have weaker eyesight because they lack pigmentation in their eyes.

The rest of this article will discuss just how blind hamsters are. I’ll also cover different types of hamsters and how blind (or color-blind) they are. Let’s get started!

How Blind Are Hamsters?

Hamsters can become blind over time due to conditions such as glaucoma. Fortunately, they have a reasonably easy time coping with blindness, as they don’t rely much on sight to navigate.

Hamsters are very short-sighted and can only see up to 4 inches (10 centimeters) away from their noses. Beyond this distance, everything appears blurry and distorted. Additionally, hamsters are born blind, but their eyesight develops on average after 14 days.

Because of their poor eyesight, hamsters rely on the following senses for survival:

Smell
Hearing
Taste

Being nocturnal animals, hamsters see better at night or in dim light. Therefore, they’re usually more active at dusk or dawn.

Due to their poor eyesight, pet owners should keep their cages safe by eliminating high platforms or sharp objects which could cause injury.

Let’s go over some different types of hamsters and discuss how well they can see.

Are Albino Hamsters Blind?

Albino hamsters are not blind. Even so, this rare hamster breed doesn’t see as clearly as other breeds because they don’t have pigmentation (melanin) in their eyes. Because of this, the eyes of an albino hamster are translucent, and the pink hue you see is because of the underlying blood vessels.

Melanin in the eye is essential because it lets the eyes absorb and tolerate light. The lack of pigmentation also makes albino hamsters more sensitive to bright light (photophobia) and weakens their ability to perceive depth.

Albino hamsters can become blind over time, usually due to other reasons.

Are Robo Hamsters Blind?

Robo hamsters are not blind. However, like other hamster breeds, they have poor eyesight and can only see beyond a few inches from their nose. They also see better in dim light as opposed to bright daylight.

Robo hamsters are born blind, but their eyesight kicks in by the time they’re five days old.

Like albino hamsters, some Robo hamsters have eyes that lack pigmentation, so they’re translucent and reflect the blood vessels underneath. Younger Robo hamsters have light, pink eyes. As they grow older, this color darkens into a red hue.

Robo hamsters are the smallest of all dwarf hamsters. Because of their poor eyesight, Robo hamsters protect themselves from potential threats by biting. It would be best if you didn’t allow small children to handle them, as they can get seriously injured.

Are Russian Dwarf Hamsters Blind?

Russian dwarf hamsters are not blind, but they’re very short-sighted and unable to perceive depth. Russian dwarf hamsters compensate for their poor eyesight by relying on their highly developed sense of smell to leave scent trails.

These trails help them to navigate back to their burrow when looking for food in new places. Additionally, older Russian dwarfs are prone to cataracts, causing worsening eyesight. Therefore, they often protect themselves by nibbling potential threats.

Are White Hamsters Blind?

White hamsters are not blind. However, the eyeless white hamsters, a rare white hamster, are born without eyes and remain blind their whole life. This particular kind of white hamster is also deaf.

Although they’re not blind, white hamsters have very poor eyesight. They primarily recognize their owners by hearing. Their smell also helps them find food, especially out in the wild.

Are Hamsters Color-Blind?

Hamsters are color-blind, and they can only see green and blue. Furthermore, some hamster breeds, such as Syrian hamsters, can only see colors within the green spectrum. And, unlike color-blind humans, hamsters cannot see white and black colors.

Their color blindness is because their eyes have very few cone cells (photoreceptor cells that enable color vision and sensitivity), resulting in a diminished ability to see a wide range of colors. Only about 3% of the cells in the retinas of hamsters are cone cells, and the remaining 97% are rod cells.

Let’s go over several different types of hamster breeds and whether or not they’re color-blind.

Are Robo Dwarf Hamsters Color-Blind?

Robo dwarf hamsters are colorblind. They can only see colors in the green and blue spectrum. This is because they have very few cone cells in the retinas of their eyes.

Since Robo dwarf hamsters are nocturnal, color blindness does not impair their navigation. The abundance of rod cells in their eyes helps them see better at night, which helps them seek out food and protect themselves from predators.

Are Syrian Hamsters Color-Blind?

Syrian hamsters are color blind. They’re also monochromatic and can only see colors within the green spectrum. Like many hamster breeds, their color blindness results from the high ratio of rods to cone cells in the retinas of their eyes. Cones are necessary for light tolerance and color perception.

Nonetheless, Syrian hamsters have excellent night vision. But, like other hamsters, they’re also very short-sighted and largely depend on their sense of smell and touch to move around.

Are Teddybear Hamsters Color-Blind?

Teddybear hamsters are color blind. The teddy bear hamster is a type of long-haired Syrian hamster. They’re also called golden hamsters or fancy bear hamsters.

This dwarf breed is color-blind and can only see green shades, similar to the monochromatic Syrian hamsters. Nonetheless, their unique eye composition (97% rod cells in the retina) makes it possible for these nocturnal creatures to navigate without much strain at night.

What Causes Blindness in Hamsters?

There are several potential causes for blindness in hamsters, and they include:

Genetic disorders or bad breeding.
Trauma to the eyes, which causes corneal ulcers.
Glaucoma, which causes cataracts.
Old age.
Eye infections such as pink eye.

How To Tell if Your Hamster Is Blind

The following are possible signs of blindness in hamsters:

A white film over the eyes, which is a sign of cataracts.
Poor navigation (for example, walking into things).
Timid behavior such as hiding in corners.
Not reacting to your hand movements in close proximity to their eyes.

What Should You Do if You Suspect That Your Hamster Is Blind?

Consult a vet if you suspect that your hamster has gone blind.

A vet will conduct necessary tests and confirm whether your pet is blind. Remember that all baby hamsters are born blind and only start to see an average of 14 days from when they’re born, so you may need to wait a while before reporting blind babies.

Additionally you should always avoid diagnosing and treating your hamster for blindness or other illnesses without consulting a medical professional. If you do find out your hamster is blind, there are many things you can do to keep it safe, including creating a safe home and environment. I’ll go over this more in-depth in the following sections.

How To Create a Safe Home for Your Hamster

Because hamsters don’t see very far, they’re prone to injuries from falls. Therefore, creating a safe home for your pet must be a priority. Here are some ways that you can do that:

Select the Right Cage

The ideal cage for your hamster should be spacious enough to contain all your hamster’s toys and leave some for it to move around. Ideally, it should measure 2 feet wide (61 centimeters) and 1 foot high (30.5 centimeters).

The spaces in between the cage bars should also be small enough to restrict passage. Dwarf hamster breeds can be tiny; if they can squeeze through the cage bars, your pet could get lost and potentially injured.

Provide a Proper Diet

As hamsters grow older, they become more prone to diabetes. A significant risk factor for diabetes in hamsters is a diet that’s high in fat and carbohydrates.

Over time, diabetic hamsters develop cataracts, which further impairs their eyesight and could lead to blindness.

To prevent this, offer your pet a healthy, balanced diet. This includes giving proper portion sizes to prevent overeating. I suggest the following pet food from Amazon.com, the Wild Harvest Nutrition Diet and Advanced Nutrition Diet. This pet food is excellent for the following reasons:

It contains a balance of healthy vegetables, fruits, grains, and seeds.
Provides advanced nutrition through fiber, minerals, protein, and vitamins.
Only a small portion is needed to meet your pet’s daily nutritional requirements (one to two tablespoons).

Offer Safe Toys

Exercise is essential to keep your hamster within a healthy weight range and prevent diabetes. To ensure that your pet gets enough exercise, you should provide toys such as wheels and tunnels, but ensure that the toys are safe and won’t cause accidents that may harm your hamster.

Here are some tips to guide you when selecting hamster toys:

Ladders should have small spaces in between rungs to prevent falls.
Avoid metallic objects, as they may injure your pet.
Ensure that toys are made from non-toxic materials (especially chewing toys).

Conclusion

Hamsters are not blind, but they are severely short-sighted. They’re also color-blind and can only see colors in the green and blue spectrum. To make up for this poor eyesight, hamsters rely on their well-developed senses of smell and hearing to navigate and protect themselves from predators.

As a pet owner, you must create a safe home for your hamster to prevent falls that would injure the hamster. Also, remember that providing the proper diet for your pet will help to prevent diabetes, which causes further eye problems.