Eye problem with cichlid -- looks serious

[Pastoral]

All, my friend's Malawi cichlid (sorry, I don't know species, I'm a Tanganyika guy) has a swollen eye, and it's also cloudy. This looks like something more serious than cloudy eye to me. Does anyone know what this is, and what best treatment would be? Thanks much in advance.

Two pics, including healthy eye for comparison.

 

[pops]

well that does not look good,

water perams , meds tried, how long been this way?

 

[Pastoral]

well that does not look good,

water perams , meds tried, how long been this way?

I will ask my friend to to an API test. No meds have been tried yet. I know he has melaflix. Would you recommend that or another medication in advance of seeing parameters?

 

[pops]

melafix ok, before a problem, usless after. I only used it or its other type when there was a wound and no sign of infection. its a preventative. not a cure.

 

[pops]

get water perams. just a good start is water changes , keep the water pristine.

for unknown causes i would use poly guard, it is broad spectrum and may disrupt bio filtration, so suggest a hospital tank if you can, link below.
https://www.seachem.com/polyguard.php

 

[kno4te]

Hope it recovers.

 

[Deadliestviper7]

Is that a venustus? If so then they need very clean water.
Do daily water changes