how long till CFL causes eye issues?

I just got a 2.5 year old Male veiled off craigslist. The ad was for the cham, cage, lights, fake vines, a plant, cricket food, a new bottle of reptisafe, and a few more odds and ends. All for just $100. This sounded like a great deal, espically since a cage usually goes for 100 bucks by its self. so I rushed over to get him. Turns out the cage is like 18x18x18, so I will need to get a new one or modify this one. And the UVB light is just a cheap clamp style fixture w/ a CFL uvb light, so I will need to get a new fixture for a linear light. So it turned out not to be an excellent deal, but it was a fair one. However when I saw how he was living, I had to get him so I can give him a better life.

Now for the questions I have to bring him back into shape.

I am assuming he has been under a CFL bulb for atleast 2 years. Has there been any damage done to his eyes after that long? How do I check to see if it has hurt his eyes?

Also he is very under weight. She said she only feed him once every few days. which Im guessing meant once every 3 days. And his diet was made up of crickets one feeding and mealworms the next feeding. So what is the best plan of action for getting him back on a good feeding schedule? should it be corrected over time or immediatly? I know worms that are high in fat like waxworms should be used sparingly, but can I give him alot of them until he gets his weight up?

She never cup fed him, which is what I would like to start doing. any tips on switching a cham over to cup feeding?

Another reason I wanted this guy is the screen on his cage had scratches on it that she said was done by her cats. That bummed me out to hear he had to deal with cats trying to get him.

well anyway, thanks for the advice in advance.

You will need a bigger cage.

The bulb will need to be replaced. After 2 years the bulb may not be functioning properly. Normally they are replaced every 6-12 months.

There was a reason it was being sold so cheaply, I'm sure. You get what you pay for.

Please post pictures of everything if possible.

i am glad you are trying to give this cham a better life

change his feeding schedule immedietly

be sure to gutload his crickets with veggies like turnip greens, mustard greens, collard greens, alfalfa grass, carrots, & squash to give him some nutrients he might have been missing from his diet previously

i recommend that you get him some silkworms, hornworms, & butterworms
for some extra protein to put on some weight instead of just trying to make
fat with waxworms

ok, i will do that. Now about my other concern, have his eyes been hurt by the two years of exposure to CFL UVB light. you know those curly lights? I heard they would cause blindness. how would i check to them?

Can he get food on his own? Are his eyes always closed?

You need to get pictures.....