Equine Eye Problems: Types and Fixes (2024)

Equine eye problems can be caused by injury, allergies,viruses and parasites. Eye problems can be tricky because there are so manycauses; some mild and easy to treat, and some very serious. What makes itdifficult is that the eye will show very similar symptoms for both mild andserious problems! Learn to tell the difference here.

Signs of EyeProblems in Horses

• Tearywatery eyes(s)
• Gooeyeye, green or yellow discharge
• Squinting
• Puffy,inflamed eye
• Redeye
• Horserubs eye(s) frequently
• Cloudyeye
• Horseshows signs of pain or discomfort with eyes
• Sensitivityto light
• Dulleye
• Very crusty eye

Equine Eye Problems -Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the tissues surroundingthe eye and very commonly seen in horses. Equine conjunctivitis is often causeddust, flies and allergies, but can also be caused by; a foreign body, an eyeinjury, herpes virus and the Leptospriosis bacteria.

The first thing that you will notice with conjunctivitis isa watery discharge. If the eye istearingalot it will run down the horses face. The driedsecretionswill be blackish and crusty. If the horse is exposed to very dusty conditions or flies,using a good mesh type fly mask will help protect your horse’s eyes.

If you have an otherwise healthy horse and suspect dust to be the cause, this can often be cleared up by flushing the eye 2-4 times a day with an equine eye wash. If the eye(s) don’t clear within a couple of days or worsen or you suspect something more serious, get your horse to the vet.

It is common for a horse with a mild case of conjunctivitisto develop a secondary bacterial infection in the eye. Your vet will need toflush the tear duct. They do this by inserting a very small long tube into thelachrymal duct, just inside the horse’s nostril, and then flushing it out witha large syringe containing a medicated/antibiotic wash.

Your vet may give a mild sedative if your horse requires it.They will also examine the eye to rule out any other factors like a foreignbody, an injury or any disease. Usually one tear duct flush treatment is oftenall it takes to clear up a case of conjunctivitis. Your vet may also give you atube of eye ointment to apply to the horse’s eye if they think it’s needed.

Equine Eye Problems –Recurrent Uveitis

If the eye problem is caused by equine recurrent uveitis, oryou suspect it may be, take your horse to the vet immediately. Recurrentuveitis is the leading cause of blindness in horses. Fast aggressive treatmentcan save your horse’s vision, if you catch it in time. To learn more about it,seeequine eye problems - recurrent uveitis for details.

Equine Eye Problems –Injury & Allergies & Herpes Virus

It’s a no brain’er when your horse has an obvious eye injuryto take them to the vet, but what about something more subtle like a scratch?The first thing you may notice is a teary eye, or that your horse does not wantto open the eye all the way. Without an eye examination it is difficult to tellif the eye has a small scratch that is irritating the eye or they have beeninfected with the Leptospriosis bacteria, the cause of recurring uveitis.

Just like people, horses can get watery eyes fromenvironmental and food allergies. A simple teary eye is less likely to be asserious as an eye that is showing other symptoms of irritation likeinflammation or green oryellowish‘eye goo’. If in doubt consult your vet.

The equine herpes virus does not cause eye problems, butrather a discharge from the eyes is one of the symptoms of the herpes virus (rhinopneumonitis). Vaccinatinghorses and pregnant mares is the best prevention. See horse vaccines for moredetails.

Equine Eye Problems –Eye Worms

Eye worms are a parasite called Thelazia spp. Thelazia iscommon in Europe and Asia and hasonly been recently seen in North America. This parasiteis more often found in cattle but can spread to horses and humans. It is passedfrom one animal to another via flies, another good reason to use a fly mask foryour horse and practice good fly control measures.

If eye worms are found the vet physically removes them manuallywith forceps and an anesthetic for the animal. The eye is flushed with aniodine solution and antibiotics.

Currently there is a worming combination that has proveneffective for cattle, but not for horses. There are no treatments approved foruse on horses in the United States.

Most horses will likely suffer a mild conjunctivitis at onetime or another during the course of their lives. Luckily it is easily treatedwith no ill effects, but because the symptoms of conjunctivitis are so similarto more serious eye problems, it is important that you as a horse owner beaware, so you can make the best judgment call at to when to seek veterinary treatment.

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