One of the most complex, yet most delicate parts of a horse’s body is their eye. Equine ophthalmologists report that eye injuries go unnoticed by owners often for far too long.

Often eye injuries are minor and resolved quickly with minimal veterinarian intervention. However, a simple eye issue can turn into a severe problem very quickly.

It is important to take a look at your horse’s eyes daily in order to detect early signs of trouble. Horses are notorious for getting themselves into trouble and their eyes are no exception. They can have things from simple scratches to foreign bodies to severe disease with very little outward signs. This is especially the case in spring when many owners place fly masks on, it’s important to remove those once daily to inspect your horse’s eye.

Things to look for include increased tearing, abnormal discharge, squinting, discoloration, a white opacity, rubbing or irritation of the eye and any swelling.

The most common type of eye injury in horses is a corneal ulcer. This occurs when there is a disruption in the surface of the eye. This makes it vulnerable to infections and it is painful. Ulcers often are a result of a foreign body or some form of trauma. They often cause the horse to squint and have increase tear production.

A veterinarian will use a stain and a special light to detect the ulcer. The stain sticks to the damaged part of the eye, allowing your vet to see the extent of the ulceration. Superficial ulcers often heal within a few days with topical antibiotic creams. It is important to have a veterinarian monitor the progress to ensure proper healing. Simple corneal ulcers can become much more severe very quickly.

Foreign material can also get into an eye. This can result in a simple scratch and cause an ulcer or it can embed in the eye causing an abscess to form. Often these are very painful and a horse can refuse to open the eye; excessive discharge is also a common presentation.

It is safe to do a brief exam of the eye to see if it is something as simple as a piece of shavings caught in the lid of the eye. However, if there is not easily visible foreign material or the foreign object is stuck in the eye it is important to leave it and call a veterinarian immediately. Try to keep the horse from rubbing his eye while you wait.

Another common eye disease in horses is uveitis. It is the leading cause of blindness in horses. Uveitis is inflammation of the uveal tract, which consists of several structures within the eye. Several different mechanisms, triggers and pathways can contribute to uveitis. Some causes include trauma, infections, cataracts, tumors, immune mediated diseases and some genetic components can make it more common. Appaloosas are at a significantly higher risk of equine recurrent uveitis then other breeds. Single episodes of uveitis can cause equine recurrent uveitis, or moon-blindness.

Clinical signs of uveitis include increased tearing, sensitivity to light, cloudiness color to eye, as well as increased redness of the eye. Blindness, loss of a functioning eye and pain are consequences of uveitis, which is why quick veterinary intervention is warranted. There are various methods to control pain and treatment is available.

Besides the eye being affected, it is not uncommon for horses to have traumatic injuries to the surrounding structure of the eye. Eye lid lacerations are fairly common and often require stitches. Horses can also get several forms of tumors that grow from structures closely associated with the eye.

I recommend daily inspection of your horse’s eye as the first step in preventing any of these issues. That way if any problems arise they can be quickly addressed and treated. It is important to remember in summer months to remove fly masks daily to inspect eyes daily.

Dr. Kate Workman graduated from Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. She is one of the associate veterinarians and rehabilitation medical director. Hassinger Equine Sports Medicine has a rehabilitation clinic in Aberdeen, North Carolina and two mobile clinics that travel to major equine events across the US. You can email her at DrKate@hassingerequinerehabilitation.com or visit www.hassingerequineservices.com.