Retinal detachment in horses: 40 cases (1998-2005).
Abstract: To determine clinical features, ophthalmic examination findings, etiology, treatment, and outcome of horses diagnosed with retinal detachment (RD). Methods: Forty horses, presented to the North Carolina State University and The Ohio State University Veterinary Teaching Hospitals from 1998 to 2005 that were diagnosed with RD. PROCEDURE(S): Horses with documented RD, confirmed either on ophthalmic examination or by ultrasonography, and with a complete medical record were included. Information retrieved from the medical records included signalment, presenting complaint, duration of clinical signs, ophthalmologic examination findings, diagnostics performed, identified cause of the retinal detachment, treatment given, and outcome. Results: Forty horses (46 eyes) were diagnosed with RD. Mean +/- SD duration of clinical signs of ocular disease was 10.5 +/- 14.7 months. Thirty-four horses presented with unilateral involvement, 6 with bilateral, 14 with partial and 32 with complete RD. Ultrasonography was used to make the diagnosis in 26 eyes, while RD was diagnosed on routine ocular examination in 20 eyes. Bullous RD was the only type of RD observed, although small vitreal traction bands were considered secondary to the underlying inflammation or trauma. RD caused by equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) was diagnosed in 27 of 40 (67.5%) horses. Trauma-induced RD involved 10 of the 40 horses (25%). Presenting problems included known ERU (n = 16), acute or progressive vision loss (n = 9), known ocular trauma (n = 6), cataract (n = 6), and a cloudy cornea (n = 3). No horses regained vision after RD despite therapy. Many eyes were enucleated or eviscerated, or the horses were euthanized. Seven eyes with complete RD were noted to be unchanged and comfortable with medical therapy. Conclusions: The visual prognosis of RD in horses is grave; however, horses with nontraumatic RD (most commonly ERU) may be able to maintain a comfortable but blind globe with anti-inflammatory medical therapy.
Publication Date: 2007-11-01 PubMed ID: 17971000DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-5224.2007.00574.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Multicenter Study
- Blindness
- Case Reports
- Clinical Examination
- Clinical Findings
- Clinical Pathology
- Clinical Signs
- Clinical Study
- Diagnosis
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Etiology
- Disease Treatment
- Equine Health
- Horses
- Ophthalmology
- Retina
- Uveitis
- Veterinary Care
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Practice
- Veterinary Procedure
- Veterinary Research
Summary
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This study focused on analyzing the clinical features, causes, treatment methods, and outcomes of horses diagnosed with retinal detachment. The article revealed that retinal detachment often leads to serious vision problems in horses and suggested that the most common cause is recurrent equine uveitis, with trauma also serving as a significant cause.
About the research
- This research was conducted at the North Carolina State University and The Ohio State University Veterinary Teaching Hospitals from 1998 to 2005, where 40 horses with retinal detachment were studied.
- The inclusion criterion in the study was horses with retinal detachment confirmed either on ophthalmic examination or by ultrasonography with a complete medical record.
- Information gathered from the medical records included details such as breed and age (signalment), presenting complaint, duration of clinical signs, examination findings, diagnostic tests done, discovered causes of the retinal detachment, given treatment, and the end result.
Findings of the study
- Out of the 40 horses, 34 came with one-sided retinal detachment (unilateral), while 6 had it on both sides (bilateral). Additionally, 14 horses had partial detachment, and 32 horses had complete retinal detachment.
- The diagnosis was made with ultrasonography in 26 eyes, while retinal detachment was identified through regular ocular examination in 20 eyes.
- Bullous retinal detachment was the exclusive type observed. This was despite some small vitreal traction bands, which were considered to have been triggered by the underlying inflammation or trauma.
- Recurrent inflammation of the equine uvea (equine recurrent uveitis, ERU) was identified as the cause of retinal detachment in 27 of the 40 horses (67.5%). Traumatic events were the cause for 10 out of 40 horses (25%).
Presenting concerns and treatment outcome
- Presenting issues in the horses included known ERU, acute or progressive vision loss, identified ocular trauma, cataract, and a cloudy cornea.
- Despite therapeutic efforts, no horses recovered their vision after retinal detachment. Many eyes were surgically removed (enucleated) or eviscerated, or the horses were euthanized due to the severity of the condition.
- Seven cases with complete retinal detachment remained unchanged and comfortable after anti-inflammatory medical therapy, even though they were blind.
- Overall, the research concludes the visual prognosis of retinal detachment in horses is poor. Nonetheless, horses diagnosed with nontraumatic retinal detachment, particularly ERU, may maintain a comfortable but blind life with anti-inflammatory therapy.
Cite This Article
APA
Strobel BW, Wilkie DA, Gilger BC.
(2007).
Retinal detachment in horses: 40 cases (1998-2005).
Vet Ophthalmol, 10(6), 380-385.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1463-5224.2007.00574.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / administration & dosage
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use
- Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horses
- Male
- North Carolina / epidemiology
- Ohio / epidemiology
- Ophthalmic Solutions / administration & dosage
- Ophthalmic Solutions / therapeutic use
- Retinal Detachment / epidemiology
- Retinal Detachment / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Kalinovskiy A, Leser S, Ehrle A, Reese S, Jones S, Gerhards H. Phacoemulsification Combined with Pars Plana Vitrectomy: Outcome in Horses with Acquired Cataracts Associated with Uveitis. Animals (Basel) 2024 Apr 16;14(8).
- Vercruysse E, Naranjo C, Sauvage A, Vandersmissen M, Grauwels M, Monclin S. Retinal detachment secondary to vitreoretinopathy in two closely related warmblood horses. Open Vet J 2021 Oct-Dec;11(4):672-679.
- Flores MM, Del Piero F, Habecker PL, Langohr IM. A retrospective histologic study of 140 cases of clinically significant equine ocular disorders. J Vet Diagn Invest 2020 May;32(3):382-388.
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