A horse’s vision and eye comfort are crucial for their safety, performance, and overall quality of life. Our team’s equipped to diagnose and medically manage a wide range of equine eye conditions, utilizing specialized tools and developing tailored treatment plans to preserve vision and alleviate discomfort.
Accurate diagnosis begins with a thorough eye examination. This involves careful visual inspection of the eyes and surrounding structures, assessment of vision and neurological reflexes like pupillary light responses, measurement of tear production using a Schirmer tear test, application of fluorescein stain to detect corneal ulcers, and measurement of intraocular pressure via tonometry to screen for glaucoma. Detailed visualization of both the front and back portions of the eye (including the cornea, iris, lens, and retina) is performed using specialized ophthalmoscopes.
Based on the examination findings, we can diagnose numerous ocular diseases commonly affecting horses. These include conditions such as conjunctivitis, uncomplicated corneal ulcers, inflammatory conditions like Equine Recurrent Uveitis (ERU) also known as moon blindness, glaucoma (increased eye pressure), dry eye or Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca (KCS), and various eyelid abnormalities not requiring surgical correction.
Once a diagnosis is reached, we create an individualized medical treatment plan. This often involves topical therapies, such as eye drops or ointments containing antibiotics, antifungals, anti-inflammatory agents like steroids or NSAIDs, and medications to dilate or constrict the pupil. For cases requiring frequent, intensive topical treatment, we can place subpalpebral lavage systems which allow medication delivery through a small tube without repeated direct handling of the eye.
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