B224
Eye Care

Introduction: The horse is considered a "prey" animal that relies heavily on its vision to identify predators coming from almost any direction. To help identify potential predators, a horse’s eye is fairly exposed and sits prominently on the head. As a result, injuries and irritation to the surface of the eye and the eyelids can be common problems for horses.

Clinical Signs: The irritation can be simply the result of dirt or debris in the eye, or it can be caused by injury, infectious disease, or a specific eye condition. Initially, the eye may become red and irritated. This is often called conjunctivitis. The horse may be sensitive to the light and will "squint" or keep the eye completely closed. Tearing or discharge from the eye is common and can result from trauma, irritation, infection, and disease.

Causative Agents: Some of the most common problems encountered in the equine eye include equine uveitis, traumatic injuries to the cornea and eyelids, and infections with parasites, bacteria, and fungi. Many of these problems can lead to corneal abrasions, ulcers, and blindness. The information on page E224 addresses all of these problems in greater detail.

Treatment/Prevention: For mild eye irritation, follow these suggestions:

1. Clean around the edges of the eye with a clean washcloth or cotton ball that has been soaked in warm water. After squeezing any excess water from the washcloth or cotton, start at the corner of the eye and wipe AWAY from the eye. Do the same thing on the opposite side of the eye. Gently remove any discharge or debris found around the eye, being careful not to drag any discharge over the surface of the eye. Use different cotton balls or areas of the washcloth for each eye. These techniques will help prevent the spread of infection (see figure #1).
2. Rinse the eye with "artificial tears" or other eye safe product. This can help rinse out debris and soothe the eye.
3. The eye should also be protected from excessive sunlight, wind, dust, and flying insect irritation.

For problems that do not seem to improve while implementing the above suggestions, the horse should be examined by a veterinarian. Conditions that may seem fairly harmless can soon progress into serious problems that can permanently damage the eye. If the eye becomes cloudy, red, swollen, very irritated, painful, or continues to have discharge, veterinarian attention is a must. The veterinarian may prescribe various ointments or solutions that can be placed in the eye. Figures #2 and 3 can aid in proper administration of these eye products. In some cases, the horse may become very resistant to continual eye treatments. When this occurs, medications can be injected under the conjunctiva or administered through a subpalpebral or nasolacrimal lavage system.

Figure #1: This shows a cotton ball being used to remove discharge and debris from the corner of the eye. Start at the corner of the eye and wipe AWAY from the eye. The same should be done for the opposite side of the eye.

Figure #2: This picture shows how to administer an eye ointment in the eye. The lower eye lid is pulled down slightly to create a type of “pocket” for the ointment. A small ribbon of ointment is then placed into the pocket.