Eye conditions and injuries can be painful and serious and usually need same day veterinary care.  It is pertinent to have a veterinarian examine the eye, determine a diagnosis, and promptly start the horse on a treatment program to avoid more complicated problems.  Certain breeds of horses are prone to certain diseases and should be monitored for any early onset.   

Signs of a painful eye may include:

        Swelling around the eye     

        Squinting

        Tearing

        Discharge that is not clear

An exam of the eye may include sedation of the horse, with placement of  local nerve blocks in the area to fully examine all aspects of the injury.  For local nerve blocks, a small amount of anesthetic will be injected very close to the nerve that innervates the area.  This will facilitate being able to clearly examine the eye, especially if the horse has the eye lids tightly closed due to pain.  The cornea may be sampled for infectious microbes and also may be stained to help identify any scratches on the surface of the eye.  Pressures in the eye can also be measured with a specialized instrument called a tonometer.  Conditions such as glaucoma may be diagnosed with high pressures or uveitis with measurements of low pressure.   

Common eye problems in the horse:

        Corneal Ulcers

        Conjunctivitis

        Eyelid Lacerations

        Equine Recurrent Uveitis

        Glaucoma

Because of the horses' anatomy, with the eyes set on the side of the head, bulging slightly, corneal ulcers are a common problem.  Foals grazing in tall grass may scratch an eye on a blade of grass, or horses in a windy environment may get a small piece of grit in the eye and cause a corneal ulcer.  Keep an eye out for the signs of a painful eye and call the veterinarian as soon as something abnormal is noted.  

How to treat an eye with ointment:

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