August is Equine Ophthalmology month

Hello!  August 2020  is national eye exam month, and we want to use this opportunity to lay out common visual diseases of our horses and ways to spot them before they become a huge problem. Equine eyes are a miraculous and delicate organ. Disease processes in the eye can progress rapidly, and many can lead to permanent loss of vision. There are many types of diseases that can affect our horses' eyes, but here we will just touch on the most common diseases that you may see with your horse.


Horses are a prey species and because of this they have eyes that sit on the side of their head which allows a 360 view of their surroundings. A healthy eye should be clear, held wide open, and free of discharge or tearing. A good indicator of eye or ocular pain, aside from the obvious squinting or holding it shut, is to compare the eye lash angle and take note of if one is held lower than the other. Squinting or aversion to bright light often indicate some eye discomfort or pain. Being prey species, and sometimes easily spooked, horses have a tendency to react rapidly and move their head violently, which can lead to lacerations on or around the eye. Having your horse seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible in these situations is critical as appropriate repair is essential to maintaining proper function of the eye.

 

A corneal ulcer is the most common eye problem we see in horses. These can happen from trauma or foreign material in the eye causing irritation and self trauma. Corneal ulcers can progress quickly if untreated. The cornea is extremely thin and progression can lead to a ruptured eye. Quickly progressive infections of the cornea can make saving the eye an extensive ordeal. Symptoms that suggest a corneal ulcer include squinting and/or sensitivity to light, excessive or increased tearing, discharge from the eye, manifestations of discomfort and pain, and corneal cloudiness. Veterinarians use a fluorescein stain to defect a corneal ulcers and erosions. Timely examination as to the cause helps dramatically direct successful therapy. The decision to prescribe ointments or drops is dependent on whether or not there are defects in the eye because they have certain components that can delay healing in some cases.


Uveitis, or moon blindness, is the leading cause of blindness in horses, and probably one you have already heard about. This can be a serious sight threatening inflammation of the uveal structures of the eye that causes squinting, redness, and pain for your horse. It can affect one or both eyes and is characterized by periods of painful uveitis flares followed by periods of a quiet or non-painful eye until they become blind, hence the name moon blindness. Though the exact cause is still unknown, environmental Leptospira bacteria are often involved.  Long term treatment is vital to slow progression of disease. Continued unmanaged flare ups can lead to blindness.  It is essential that every episode of inflammation be assessed by your veterinarian at the earliest opportunity.


Alpine Equine Hospital is committed to our clients and is available  to discuss any equine health care questions with respect to diseases and injuries of the eye.  Call early when you suspect injury around or involving the eye.  Delay in diagnosis and treatment can cost a horse its vision. Prompt and appropriate treatment of eye problems usually results in positive outcomes. 

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