If you’re a horse owner, are you aware of Corneal Ulcer Disease. Corneal ulcers are common problems in the horse world. Horses live in a naturally contaminated and dusty environment. They reach their heads into tall grasses, piles of hay, and low-hanging branches. They like to roll in the dirt or shavings, and rub their faces into the grass. Those protruding eyes are just asking to be injured!
The cornea is the clear portion. Just inside of it is a chamber filled with thick fluid, then the iris, lens, and the jelly of the back chamber sitting against the retina. Because the cornea is clear it is often easy for us to see signs of disease there, even in the early stages. And treating disease earlier is always better than treating it later! Blue, white, or grey spots or areas are cause for concern. An ulcer is the most common corneal problem we see. This is a break in the top layer of cells, and can be an abrasion (scrape) or cut. Corneal ulcers are often caused by particles (shavings, grass seeds, sand) in the eye which drag across the cornea during blinking. Ulcers can be infected by bacteria or fungal organisms, or caused by viruses. Often the visual appearance can tell us which is involved, and that determines our choice of medication. Sometimes we need to remove some cells and evaluate them under a microscope to make that determination. The important thing is to figure it out early and treat aggressively and correctly.
If your horse develops a corneal ulcer the first signs may include tearing, holding the lids closed, rubbing the eye which can lead to swelling of the lids, and the white areas previously mentioned. It is not advisable for you to wrestle the lids open and try to clean the eye. Sometimes you may drive a foreign body in deeper or make the ulcer much worse. Treatment includes medication for inflammation and pain, as well as topical medication for infection, pain, and perhaps other issues.
Please do not let a painful eye wait for days before having it evaluated by a veterinarian with an interest in eye disease. With early treatment many corneal ulcers are healed in three days. An infected ulcer that is several days old may require weeks of treatment in the hope of salvaging some sight.
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