Topic:Ophthalmology
Ophthalmology in horses encompasses the study and treatment of eye disorders and diseases affecting equine species. Equine ophthalmic conditions can range from conjunctivitis and corneal ulcers to more complex issues such as uveitis and cataracts. These conditions can impact a horse's vision and overall well-being. Diagnostic techniques in equine ophthalmology include visual examinations, fluorescein staining, and advanced imaging methods like ultrasonography. Treatment approaches vary depending on the specific condition and may involve medication, surgical intervention, or supportive care. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the anatomy, pathology, diagnostics, and treatment modalities related to equine ophthalmology.
Prevalence of linear keratopathy in a herd of Lipizzaners over an 18-month period. The prevalence of linear keratopathy with progressing age in a closed population of a single horse breed is reported. All Lipizzaners in three federal states in Austria underwent complete ophthalmic examination four times over a period of 18 months, with six-month intervals. Findings consistent with linear keratopathy were recorded, and associated with factors such as sex, location, boarding system and level of performance throughout the study period. Logistic regression was applied to determine the influence of age on ophthalmic findings. On the first, second, third and fourth examinations, 0...
Evaluation of the effects of age and pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction on corneal sensitivity in horses. To determine effects of age and pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) on corneal sensitivity in horses. Methods: 20 adult horses allocated into 3 groups (PPID group, old [> 15 years old] horses with PPID [n = 5]; old group, old [> 15 years old] horses without PPID [9]; and young group, young [≤ 10 years old] horses without PPID [6]). All horses with PPID had hirsutism and abnormal fat deposition or laminitis; none of the old or young horses had hirsutism, abnormal fat deposition, or laminitis. Methods: A Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometer was used to measure the corneal touch threshold (CTT...
Eosinophilic keratitis in 46 eyes of 27 horses in the Mid-Atlantic United States (2008-2012). To review the signalment, clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcome of equine EK cases in the Mid-Atlantic United States; to evaluate the effects of topical or systemic corticosteroid treatment, oral cetirizine treatment and secondary corneal infection on disease duration; and to evaluate the association between corticosteroid and cetirizine treatment and likelihood of recurrence. Methods: Twenty-seven horses (47 eyes) diagnosed with EK from 2008 to 2012. Methods: Retrospective medical record review followed by phone interview to obtain recurrence data. Results: Average age of affected ...
Effect of retrobulbar nerve block on heart rate variability during enucleation in horses under general anesthesia. Analysis of any effect of retrobulbar block during ocular surgery on heart rate variability and oculocardiac reflex. Methods: Prospective study. Methods: Horses (n = 16) undergoing eye enucleation due to chronic ophthalmologic diseases. Methods: Eye enucleation was performed under general anesthesia. The horses were randomly assigned to the first (inhalation anesthesia only, n = 10) or second group (inhalation and local retrobulbar anesthesia, n = 6). The retrobulbar block was performed using 12 mL of mepivacaine hydrochloride 2%. ECG data were taken by a Telemetric ECG before, during, and aft...
The effect of 1% tropicamide-induced mydriasis and cycloplegia on spherical refraction of the adult horse. To determine the effects of tropicamide 1% on the refractive state of the adult equine globe and identify the most appropriate time period (in relation to mydriasis) to perform streak retinoscopy. Methods: Eight university-owned mares of various ages and breeds. Methods: Topical tropicamide 1% was applied to one randomly selected eye from each of the horses to induce mydriasis and cycloplegia. The contralateral eyes served as controls. Streak retinoscopy and pupillometry were performed prior to, and every 5 min after tropicamide 1% installation for 90 min. Results: All values are expressed as ...
Corneal ulcers in horses. Corneal ulceration is commonly diagnosed by equine veterinarians. A complete ophthalmic examination as well as fluorescein staining, corneal cytology, and corneal bacterial (aerobic) and fungal culture and sensitivity testing are necessary for all infected corneal ulcers. Appropriate topical antibiotics, topical atropine, and systemic NSAIDs are indicated for all corneal ulcers. If keratomalacia (melting) is observed, anticollagenase/antiprotease therapy, such as autologous serum, is indicated. If fungal infection is suspected, antifungal therapy is a necessity. Subpalpebral lavage systems all...
Visual outcome after corneal transplantation for corneal perforation and iris prolapse in 37 horses: 1998-2010. We wanted to investigate the visual outcome of horses presented with iris prolapse and treated with corneal transplantation. Objective: To evaluate the visual outcome of horses with iris prolapse treated with penetrating keratoplasty alone and penetrating keratoplasty in combination with overlying conjunctival or amniotic membrane grafting. Methods: A retrospective medical records study of horses presented to the University of Florida Veterinary Medical Center for iris prolapse and treated with penetrating keratoplasty in the period of 1998-2010. Data collected from the medical records include...
Comparison of efficacy and duration of effect on corneal sensitivity among anesthetic agents following ocular administration in clinically normal horses. To compare efficacy and duration of effect on corneal sensitivity of 0.5% proparacaine hydrochloride, 0.5% bupivacaine hydrochloride, 2% lidocaine hydrochloride, and 2% mepivacaine hydrochloride solutions following ocular administration in clinically normal horses. Methods: 68 clinically normal horses. Methods: 60 horses were assigned to receive 1 anesthetic agent in 1 eye. For each of another 8 horses, 1 eye was treated with each of the anesthetic agents in random order with a 1-week washout period between treatments. Corneal sensitivity was assessed via corneal touch threshold (CTT) measurem...
Anesthesia for ophthalmic procedures in the standing horse. Effective delivery of local anesthesia is essential for successful standing surgical procedures in the horse. Local anesthesia can be used to facilitate examination of the eye, diagnostic procedures, therapeutic techniques, and surgical procedures. Understanding the relevant clinical anatomy and techniques for performing local anesthesia is critical to delivering successful local and regional anesthesia and analgesia.
Ultrasonographic features of PMEL17 (Silver) mutant gene-associated multiple congenital ocular anomalies (MCOA) in Comtois and Rocky Mountain horses. (1) To describe the ultrasonographic appearance of multiple congenital ocular anomalies (MCOA) in the eyes of horses with the PMEL17 (Silver) mutant gene. (2) To compare the accuracy of B-mode ocular ultrasound to conventional direct ophthalmoscopy. Methods: Sixty-seven Comtois and 18 Rocky Mountain horses were included in the study. Methods: Horses were classified as being carriers or noncarriers of the PMEL17 mutant allele based on coat color or genetic testing. Direct ophthalmoscopy followed by standardized ultrasonographic examination was performed in all horses. Results: Seventy-five of 8...
Effects of action of proparacaine and tetracaine topical ophthalmic formulations on corneal sensitivity in horses. To compare the corneal anesthetic effects and duration of action of 2 ophthalmic anesthetic agents in horses. Methods: Prospective, randomized masked crossover study. Methods: 8 clinically normal adult horses. Methods: Corneal sensitivity was determined by measuring each eye's corneal touch threshold (CTT) with a Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer. Each eye's baseline CTT was recorded prior to anesthetic instillation at 0 minutes and every 10 minutes thereafter for 60 minutes. Each eye was randomly assigned to receive 2 of 4 treatments: 0.5% aqueous proparacaine ophthalmic solution (aqueous proparaca...
Fungal polymerase chain reaction testing in equine ulcerative keratitis. To assess the diagnostic utility of fungal polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in forty-three horses with naturally acquired corneal ulcers presenting to a private practice. Methods: Routine evaluation of cytologic, histologic, and microbiologic samples was performed. Two PCR approaches were compared - generic and specific fungal nested PCR followed by sequencing and quantitative PCR (qPCR). PCRs were applied to pure control fungal cultures, corneal tissue from ulcerated eyes and in a subset of 9 horses, to swabs from contralateral normal eyes. Results: The expected fungus was identified by nested...
Resolution of hyphaema following intracameral injection of tenecteplase in a Stock Horse. Intracameral injection of tissue plasminogen activator has been suggested as a means of hastening the clearance of blood from the anterior chamber and reducing the risk of synechia and fibrotic membrane formation in horses with hyphaema. The following report describes a case of ocular trauma in which intracameral injection of tenecteplase (TNK), a new-generation plasminogen activator, resulted in rapid resolution of hyphaema and successful outcome. However, a large dose (1 mg) was administered and may have been associated with retinopathy and keratopathy. TNK may be an effective treatment for ...
Association of height, body weight, age, and corneal diameter with calculated intraocular lens strength of adult horses. To determine whether differences exist in the calculated intraocular lens (IOL) strengths of a population of adult horses and to assess the association between calculated IOL strength and horse height, body weight, and age, and between calculated IOL strength and corneal diameter. Methods: 28 clinically normal adult horses (56 eyes). Methods: Axial globe lengths and anterior chamber depths were measured ultrasonographically. Corneal curvatures were determined with a modified photokeratometer and brightness-mode ultrasonographic images. Data were used in the Binkhorst equation to calculate the ...
Ocular disease in working horses in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. Ocular disease is a frequent finding in working horses. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence and types of ocular pathology, and explore risk factors potentially associated with disease within a population of working horses in Ethiopia. In total, 1049 horses were selected from horses attending clinics run by the Society for Protection of Animals Abroad (SPANA). Each had an ophthalmic examination conducted under field conditions using a pen-torch. All owners completed a short questionnaire. The prevalence of ocular abnormalities was 23.5 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval (CI) 18.0...
Multicentric T-cell lymphoma presenting as inferior palpebral swelling in a Standardbred mare. A 6-year-old Standardbred mare that presented with bilateral palpebral swelling and a left corneal ulcer was diagnosed with a multicentric T-cell lymphoma. Other clinical findings included submandibular lymphadenopathy and oedema, pharyngeal oedema and rhinitis. Prior to euthanasia the horse developed keratomalacia, the onset of which was coincidental with the use of high doses of topical and systemic corticosteroids. Although an unusual presentation, palpebral swelling should be considered as a clinical sign of lymphoma.
Bilateral parotid duct transposition for keratoconjunctivitis sicca in a Connemara stallion. A 7-year-old Connemara stallion was presented with a 4 month history of blepharospasm, recurrent corneal ulcerations, mucopurulent ocular discharge, and keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) in both eyes unresponsive to medical therapy. Ophthalmic examination revealed lackluster corneas, axial corneal scarring and pigmentation with associated neovascularization, and absolute KCS in both eyes. Computed tomography scan and endoscopic evaluation of the upper airway and guttural pouches revealed no structural abnormalities to indicate neurogenic KCS. The stallion was diagnosed with immune-mediated dacr...
Benign intraocular teratoid medulloepithelioma causing glaucoma in an 11-year-old Arabian mare. An 11-year-old Arabian mare was presented for investigation of a visible, pale-colored intraocular mass in the right eye. Results: An intraocular mass was detected clinically and ultrasonographically as originating from the superior temporal quadrant of the ciliary body and iris and causing secondary glaucoma. The echodense mass was occupying the majority of the vitreous chamber and extended into the anterior chamber. The left eye appeared normal. Results: Enucleation was recommended for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. No adjuvant treatment was given. Histopathological examination demonst...
Ophthalmological findings in a closed herd of Lipizzaners. There are no studies on the ophthalmic health status in the Lipizzaner breed. Objective: To perform an ophthalmological survey in a closed herd in 3 housing systems. Methods: All horses at the Federal Stud Piber, Heldenberg and the Spanish Riding School Vienna were subjected to ophthalmological examination. Findings were documented and correlated with factors such as age, gender, location and housing situation. The interrelation of abnormalities of different regions was determined by calculating accuracy. Pedigree analysis of horses affected by cataract was performed. Results: A total of 267 h...
Modified Kuhnt-Szymanowski surgical procedure for secondary cicatricial ectropion in a horse. A 1-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding was presented to the University of Florida's Large Animal Hospital (UF-LAH) for correction of ectropion of the right lower eyelid. The ectropion was the result of a lower eyelid laceration. A primary repair was performed by the referring veterinarian; however, the horse prematurely removed the sutures and the wound healed with inversion of the eyelid margin. Surgical correction of the entropion, with removal of tissue from the lower eyelid, resulted in cicatricial ectropion. During the initial evaluation at UF-LAH, a corneal ulcer was noted in the right eye...
Equine keratomycoses in California from 1987 to 2010 (47 cases). Equine keratomycosis in the western USA has received little study, probably owing to its low prevalence. Objective: To determine clinical features, predominant fungal isolates, treatment modalities and outcomes of horses with keratomycosis in California and compare these with results from different geographic regions. Methods: Records of horses presented to the University of California-Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (UCD-VMTH) with confirmed keratomycosis between 1987 and 2010 were reviewed for this retrospective study. Information retrieved from the record included background, oph...
Ocular abnormalities in healthy Standardbred foals. To determine the prevalence and describe ocular abnormalities in healthy Standardbred foals within 48 h of birth. Methods: One hundred and two neonatal foals. Methods: All foals had an unassisted delivery. On the basis of physical examination and the results of hematological and biochemical parameters, all foals were unaffected by systemic diseases. A complete ophthalmic examination was performed within 48 h of birth. Foals with ocular hemorrhages were re-examined weekly until the abnormalities were resolved. Results: 65/102 (63.7%) foals did not show ocular abnormalities, while in 37/102 (36....
Pharmacokinetic analysis of topical tobramycin in equine tears by automated immunoassay. Ophthalmic antibiotic therapy in large animals is often used empirically because of the lack of pharmacokinetics studies. The purpose of the study was to determine the pharmacokinetics of topical tobramycin 0.3% ophthalmic solution in the tears of normal horses using an automated immunoassay analysis. Results: The mean tobramycin concentrations in the tears at 5, 10, 15, 30 minutes and 1, 2, 4, 6 hours after administration were 759 (±414), 489 (±237), 346 (±227), 147 (±264), 27.6 (±28.4), 14.8 (±66.6), 6.7 (±18.6), and 23.4 (±73.4) mg/L. Mean tobramycin concentration was maintained abo...
Safety and biodistribution of an equine infectious anemia virus-based gene therapy, RetinoStat(®), for age-related macular degeneration. RetinoStat(®) is an equine infectious anemia virus-based lentiviral gene therapy vector that expresses the angiostatic proteins endostatin and angiostatin that is delivered via a subretinal injection for the treatment of the wet form of age-related macular degeneration. We initiated 6-month safety and biodistribution studies in two species; rhesus macaques and Dutch belted rabbits. After subretinal administration of RetinoStat the level of human endostatin and angiostatin proteins in the vitreous of treated rabbit eyes peaked at ∼1 month after dosing and remained elevated for the duration o...
A pilot study on the corneal curvatures and ocular dimensions of horses less than one year of age. Intraocular lenses (IOLs) have been implanted in adult equine eyes after cataract surgery. Foals and weanlings comprise a large proportion of those horses undergoing cataract surgery. Due to potential differences in the size and corneal curvature of the juvenile eye, it is not currently known whether implantation of adult IOLs is appropriate in foals and weanlings. The objective of the study was to measure the anterior chamber depth (ACD), central lens thickness (CLT), vitreous chamber depth (VCD), axial globe length (AGL) and corneal curvature of horses less than one year of age. The axial di...
Ocular manifestations of a metastatic adenocarcinoma in a horse. A 10-year-old German Warmblood gelding was referred to the Equine Department of the Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland, for an iris mass OD, lethargy, intermittent fever, and coughing. Ophthalmic examination revealed a 7 × 9 mm raised, fleshy, whitish to pinkish, vascularized iris mass at the 2 o`clock position OD. Fundic examination showed multifocal round, brown to black, slightly raised lesions with indistinct margins and a surrounding hyperreflective zone OU. Physical examination revealed a temperature of 39.2 °C, sinus tachycardia, preputial and ventral edema, and an e...
Risk factors for colic in equids hospitalized for ocular disease. To evaluate the incidence of colic and risk factors for colic in equids hospitalized for ocular disease. Methods: Retrospective observational study. Animals-337 equids (317 horses, 19 ponies, and 1 donkey) hospitalized for ocular disease. Methods: Medical records of equids hospitalized for > 24 hours for treatment of ocular disease between January 1997 and December 2008 were reviewed. Information from only the first hospitalization was used for equids that were hospitalized for ocular disease on more than 1 occasion. Information gathered included the signalment, the type of ocular lesion and t...
Phacoemulsification and +14 diopter intraocular lens placement in a Saddlebred foal. A 2-month-old, 110-kg Saddlebred filly presented for evaluation of bilateral cataracts. A hypermature cataract in the left eye (OS) and an incipient nuclear cataract in the right eye (OD) were diagnosed. Electroretinography and ocular ultrasound revealed no contraindications for surgical removal of the cataractous lens OS. Phacoemulsification and implantation of a +14 diopter (D) intraocular lens (IOL) OS were performed at 4 months of age without complication, with the exception of a partial iridectomy performed on a small iris section that prolapsed through the corneal incision. Complete opht...
Diode laser endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation in the normal equine eye. To determine the clinical and histologic effects of diode endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (ECP) in the phakic equine eye. Methods: Phase I: 10 equine cadaver eyes. Phase II: four normal adult horses. Methods: Phase I: ECP probe angle of reach (AR) was determined. Multiple ECP energy levels: 0.75, 0.90, 1.05, 1.20, 1.35, 1.50 J, and the resulting visible and histologic ciliary process changes were evaluated. Phase II: Ocular quadrants were treated with ECP at 0.90, 1.14, 1.38 J, and a control. The contralateral eye underwent a sham operation. Tissue changes (clinical and histologic) were evalu...