Northernlights Equestrian veterinary page

A few conditions of the eye of the horse

A few conditions of the eye.

Some conditions are easily seen by the horse owner, but others can only be diagnosed by a vet, who should always be

consulted if in doubt.

Injuries to the eyelids

These are quite common,as the eyelids maybe torn by blackthorn spikes or nails, they can become bruised by a fall or

blow. Whenever an eyelid is torn it is best to seek veterinary advice immediately so it can be repaired surgically.

Repair must be carried out quickly so that healing takes place without contraction or distortion of the eyelid aperture.

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is the name given to inflammation of the conjunctival membrane. It is caused by infection or irritation

from foreign bodies or substances. It is recognized by a marked congestion of the membranes which are swollen and

turn red in colour. There is a discharge from the eye often with pus and pain, this makes the horse unwilling to open the

eye or have it examined.

Treatment is best left to the vet, if due to infection an antibiotic ointment, will be prescribed. If a foreign body, such as

oat husk or barley awn, this will have to be removed with the help of anaesthesia, as a first aid measure the eye can be

washed with a lukewarm saline solution made up by adding a teaspoonful of common salt to a pint of boiled but tepid

water.

Keratitis

Keratitis is inflammation of the cornea, it is a fairly common condition and may arise from conjunctivitis injury or infection

of the eye. The cornea is very sensitive and when inflamed the eyelids stay tightly closed there is a discharge and pain,

the discharge may become purulent after a couple of days.

In mild cases the keratitis may settle down to a chronic state. When this happens the eye when examined has grey

patches spread across the cornea, they are not easily seen, but when there, they reduce the normal transparent lustre

of the cornea so impair vision.

In severe cases the whole of the cornea goes grey-white and often a fringe of blood vessels can be seen round the edges

this is an attempt by the body to speed up the healing process of the condition. If the condition is caused by an injury

rather than an infection, an ulcer will be seen on the front of the eye, without proper treatment this can progress until

the cornea is perforated and the aqueous humour escapes, also the iris may be drawn forward inside the eye to stick

to the edges of the wound or the eyeball may steadily collapse with loss of function and blindness.

If the ulcer is treated promptly and adequately, blood vessels will grow across it and it will slowly heal and the pain will

become less. It is best to keep the horse in a dark box as the light irritates the eye. When healing is complete there will

sometimes still be seen a small grey scar left on the cornea when the eye is examined closely.

Cateract.

Cateracts may be developed or degenerative. Developmental cateracts result from defects in the eye from birth, and

these can vary from a small opacity in the middle of the lens to a total diffuse condition which involves the whole

structure and the pupil appears to be filled with white marble, it is unusual for congenital cateracts to be progressive

Degenerative cateracts are the result of disease,injury,or old age, these cateracts can be of any size or shape, but

they usually in lines from a central point often having a cobweb like appearance. Often these progress to total dense

cateracts and result in blindness.

The detailed diagnosis of cataract can only be done with an ophthalmoscope. only the vet can truly diagnose these.