Eye Infections in Horses
Eye infections in horses are common but require prompt diagnosis and treatment to prevent permanent injury or blindness. Eye infections are caused by various bacterial, viral, fungal, and allergen irritants. The two most common infections are conjunctivitis and equine recurrent uveitis, which cause uncomfortable symptoms in the eye. A vet can diagnose the cause of your horse's eye infection through a physical examination, culturing, and sometimes an MRI or CT scan. If you catch and treat an eye infection early, the prognosis is typically optimistic but dependent on the stage of the infection and its cause.
What Are Eye Infections?
An eye infection is a disease of the eye caused by harmful bacteria, fungi, or viruses. Horses can develop eye infections like conjunctivitis, and equine recurrent uveitis (ERU), sometimes caused by injury to the eye or exposure to allergens like pollen and dust. Conjunctivitis causes the mucus membrane around the eye to swell and become red. ERU results in recurrent episodes of eye inflammation and is the most common cause of blindness in horses.
Symptoms of Eye Infections in Horses
There are a variety of symptoms that point to eye infections in horses. An untreated eye infection is very painful for your horse and can lead to complications
Swollen Eyelids
Eyelid swelling can happen for a variety of reasons. In addition to blunt head injury and allergies, an eye infection is a likely cause of swollen eyelids in a horse. Visit your vet if you're not sure what's causing your horse's eye to swell.
Eye Discharge
While some eye discharge is a normal function of a healthy eye, the type of discharge your horse is producing can indicate infection. Some tearing shouldn't be cause for worry, but if the discharge is thick, yellow or white, and pussy, an infection is probably to blame.
Tearing
If your horse's eye is tearing excessively, it may be a sign of ERU. Again, some tearing is normal, but pay attention to the volume of your horse's tears.
Hazy Appearance of the Eye
Early in infection, your horse's eye may appear hazy or cloudy. A whiteish film over the eye may indicate ERU. There are many reasons a horse's eye may look cloudy, so pay a visit to your vet for a definitive diagnosis.