Equine Health

Medicine & Husbandry

Eye Injuries

In general, any condition that affects the eye is considered an emergency and needs to be seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Although most injuries or infections can be treated, the success of saving the eye often depends on how quickly and effectively the treatment was initiated.

In general, the eye is composed of an outer shell, or the cornea, inner fluid in two chambers, the lens, and the retina, or back of the eye. Most injuries or infections involve the cornea and possibly the deeper structures in the anterior chamber. The cornea is very “slick” and usually bacteria or other pathogens cannot get a hold on the surface of the eye. In this way the cornea protects the other deeper structures of the eye. However, once there is even a minor disruption to the surface of the cornea, from a scratch or puncture for example, bacteria are able to get into the area of injury and can literally start eating away at the cornea and cause an ulcer. Without proper and timely treatment, the ulcer can deepen until it penetrates the thickness of the cornea and ruptures into the fluid inside. An injury such as this can render the eye incapable of being salvaged. It is important to note that injuries to the eye can worsen quickly, going from a scratch that is barely noticeable to an serious ulcerating wound in a very short period of time.

The bloodstream can also carry viruses and bacteria to the inner structures of the eye. This can produce a “cloudy” appearance to the eye and can be very painful to the horse. Timely treatment is important here too, as the longer the infection is present in the eye, the more damage is done to its delicate structures.

It is important to remember NEVER to put any medications in the eye without the consultation of a veterinarian. Medications that are not specific to the eye can cause severe damage to the tissue and resulting blindness. Even if you have “a tube of ointment” left over from another eye injury, do not use it without the approval from your vet. Although the tubes may look the same, the ingredients are not, and using the wrong medication is likely to make the condition worse.