Blindness --> Eyes falling out (a bit graphic/disturbing)

[the_edsta]

The reason I said the specimen should be culled is because it has some serious defects and we do not know how this will affect the animal and since bringing the snake to the vet is not an option I would rather the animal be culled than suffer.

The reason I resisted is that, in this situation, the word is only a euphemism as there is no group or 'herd' to cull him from. He is the only one I kept and did so particularly because he needed the attention.

I would agree if it were acting otherwise ill. But he said it is still moving around to thermoregulate, and took food very recently. Yes, it's probably suffering right now, but this problem could be temporary, and the snake could have a fairly normal life for years to come. The only thing a vet would do in this case most likely is prescribe some sort of antiseptic ointment. We don't know if anything else is wrong, because nothing else really appears to be wrong...
If the owner and snake are both willing, then it's worth a shot.

I'm going to try and feed again tonight or tomorrow and I hope he will eat. I will also continue applying an antiseptic, though I am considering a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution rather than the triple antibiotic cream I have been using -- only because we seem to be waiting for it to 'dry out' and the cream doesn't accelerate the process (perhaps the opposite).

The bulging eyes are getting caught on substrate and such as he moves, though. The further those things come from their sockets, the more I am tempted to cut them off.

[d_virginiana]

I'm going to try and feed again tonight or tomorrow and I hope he will eat. I will also continue applying an antiseptic, though I am considering a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution rather than the triple antibiotic cream I have been using -- only because we seem to be waiting for it to 'dry out' and the cream doesn't accelerate the process (perhaps the opposite).

The bulging eyes are getting caught on substrate and such as he moves, though. The further those things come from their sockets, the more I am tempted to cut them off.

Can you put him on newspaper? That's what I've done when some of mine have had mouth infections, to keep substrate from getting into it. Keeps dust at a minimum too. IMO you should wait until they are completely dry and hard to try to remove them. I'm thinking an infection could start up if you messed with it before it was dried completely. If you wait till it's completely dry, it should be painless to remove it and no risk of starting an infection.
I would also recommend just removing the parts hanging out of the socket to keep them from getting caught on stuff. The closer you cut to healthy tissue the more likely it is that you'll break the skin and an infection could start. The rest of it would probably come off in time on its own.

Hm... There was a thread a long time ago (as in years) that I remember where someone had a male with a twisted hemipene that wouldn't go back in. The guy did something to get it to dry out so he could break it off safely. Don't remember what it was or if it would be safe to do for the eyes though. Maybe someone else remembers the thread I'm talking about?

[ConcinusMan]

Hm... There was a thread a long time ago (as in years) that I remember where someone had a male with a twisted hemipene that wouldn't go back in. The guy did something to get it to dry out so he could break it off safely. Don't remember what it was or if it would be safe to do for the eyes though. Maybe someone else remembers the thread I'm talking about?

I remember. Sugar water can bring the swelling down and allow the hemipene to be taken back in. In most cases however, it's too damaged. In that case, in order avoid a lot of bleeding, applying a desiccant such as sugar (salt is a desiccant too, but will probably be painful) will dessicate it and then it will either fall off with a shed, or it can be cut off.

In this case, the eyes are already completely dessicated. I really don't think that clipping them off will hurt anything.