chronic as the name suggests, and tends to become more severe and painful over time. There is sometimes an initial episode of trauma whilst in other cases no inciting cause is apparent. The affected eye is painful, with the horse tending to partially close its eyelids especially in response to light. Oſten the eye itself appears white or blueish in colour, due to swelling of the cornea. There is likely to be an overflow of tears onto the face, and reddening of the conjunctival membranes around the eye. On further examination, the veterinary surgeon will usually find that the pupil is tightly constricted. Treatment is with systemic painkillers such as flunixin or phenylbutazone (‘bute’), topical anti-inflammatory (usually steroid) drops and topical atropine which dilates the pupil. In severe cases, once again, treatment needs to be so frequent that placing a lavage catheter and hospitalising the horse may be the most appropriate option. Unfortunately, recurrences of the condition are likely, but the frequency of this is unpredictable. Each time an episode occurs, further damage accumulates within the eye such that over time, affected eyes develop changes including cataracts and sometimes retinal damage or detachment. In recurrent cases which are diagnosed early, before significant damage to the internal structures of the eye has occurred, a surgical implant of an anti-inflammatory type of drug


About the author:


Naomi de Pennington MA VetMB CertEM (IntMed) MRCVS RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Equine Internal Medicine Avonvale Equine Practice, Ratley Lodge, Ratley, Banbury OX15 6DT www.avonvaleequine.co.uk Tel: 01295 670501


Naomi de Pennington is a director of the Avonvale Equine Practice, based in Ratley near Banbury which provides equine veterinary services throughout Oxfordshire, Warwickshire and Northamptonshire. She holds the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons Certificate in Equine Internal Medicine, and is recognised as an Advanced Practitioner in Equine Internal Medicine. She is a member of the International Equine Ophthalmology Consortium which is a group comprising experts in equine ophthalmology from all over the world, dedicated to the sharing of knowledge on this subject. Her other particular interests include stud and foal medicine, gastroenterology including colic surgery, cardiology and poor performance.


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placed within the eye can reduce the severity and frequency of episodes. In more severe cases, or where multiple recurrences have led to significant damage, enucleation (removal of the eye) may be the best means of resolving this painful blinding condition. This is a procedure we usually perform with the horse standing under sedation using specialised local anaesthetic techniques. Horses can go on to perform and compete successfully in most disciplines with only one eye, and in cases where there has been prolonged discomfort, they will oſten perform much better once the source of pain has been removed.


Pre-purchase examinations are another occasion where you will require your veterinary surgeon to perform a thorough assessment of a horse’s eyes. In these assessments we are looking for abnormalities which may affect the horse’s vision now or in the future, such as cataracts or abnormalities of the retina (the back of the eye). We are also looking for any changes which may indicate that the horse has had a previous episode of uveitis, given the propensity of this condition to recur. The eye, third eyelid and skin around the eye are also areas where tumours such as melanomas, squamous cell carcinomas and sarcoids may arise.


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