Equine eye issues should always be taken seriously. Even minor problems can turn into
\nsomething more serious; if you\u2019re ever in doubt, call your vet for a diagnosis and treatment.
\nWith that said, I thought I\u2019d share some information on the most common eye issues seen in
\nhorses and how to recognize them.<\/p>\n
Corneal Ulcers<\/strong> Conjunctivitis<\/strong> Uveitis (Moon Blindness)<\/strong> Equine eye issues should always be taken seriously. Even minor problems can turn into something more serious; if you\u2019re ever in doubt, call your vet for a diagnosis and treatment. With that said, I thought I\u2019d share some information on the most common eye issues seen in horses and how to recognize them. Corneal Ulcers…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":38494,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[62],"tags":[215,161,214],"class_list":["post-38493","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle","tag-eye-care","tag-horse-care","tag-horse-eye"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nCorneal ulcers are caused from a break or tear in the surface of the outer layer of the eye. They
\noften develop as a result of trauma, such as plant material scratching the eye. Symptoms
\ninclude redness, tearing, squinting, cloudiness and\/or irregularities in the cornea. More serious
\ncorneal ulcers can result in infection of the eye, which could lead to further complications.
\n\u00a0<\/strong>
\nBlocked Tear Ducts<\/strong>
\nBlocked tear ducts are not especially painful for the horse, but result in almost continuous
\nwatery discharge, usually from one eye. They can occur for several reasons, including
\naccumulation of debris or mucous, or from a structural problem, such as a narrow or damaged
\ntear duct. A blocked tear duct\u00a0can sometimes be dealt with by cleaning the eye twice a day with
\na sterile solution and using a fly mask. However, if it doesn\u2019t resolve, you may need to have your
\nvet \u2018flush\u2019 the tear duct.<\/p>\n
\nConjunctivitis involves inflammation of the inner lining of the upper and lower eyelids. This is
\none eye issue that can be contagious, so you may see all your horses developing this problem
\naround the same time. Conjunctivitis can also be caused by a bacterial infection (often
\nsecondary to another illness), or possibly flies or environmental irritants. Itching and irritation are
\nusually the first signs of conjunctivitis, often followed by clear or yellowish discharge, swollen
\neyelids, a closed eye or squinting, sensitivity to light and dust, rubbing the eye, and possibly
\nhead-shaking.<\/p>\n
\nUveitis involves inflammation of the uveal tissue inside the eye. The symptoms can be very
\nsimilar to those of corneal ulcers, but may also include a constricted pupil and iris color
\nchanges. Uveitis can have many causes, and Equine Recurrent Uveitis (ERU) is diagnosed
\nwhen this condition recurs on a frequent basis. ERU often leads to irreversible damage to the
\neye, and eventually, blindness. Early detection is important to slow inflammation and hopefully
\npreserve the horse\u2019s eyesight.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"