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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Ophthalmol / Survey of ocular abnormalities in draft horses.
Veterinary ophthalmology2022; 26(2); 101-107; doi: 10.1111/vop.13009

Survey of ocular abnormalities in draft horses.

Abstract: To determine the prevalence of ocular disease in draft horses in the United States. Methods: Draft horses of various breeds and ages. Methods: Nondilated ophthalmic examination was performed using slit lamp biomicroscopy and indirect ophthalmoscopy. Intraocular pressures were measured when possible. Results: One hundred sixty-five draft horses were examined. Age range: 10 days to 33 years (mean 10.8 years, median 10 years); 87 geldings (52.7%), 71 mares (43.0%), 7 stallions (4.2%); 64 Percherons (38.8%), 51 Belgians (30.9%), 29 Clydesdales (17.6%), 15 Shires (9%), and 6 other draft breed (3.6%). Intraocular pressure: mean 24.7 mmHg OD, range 13-37 mmHg; mean 25.0 mmHg OS, range 11-37 mmHg. Vision-threatening disease was present in 9 horses (5.5%): complete cataracts 1, post-traumatic optic nerve atrophy 1, uveitis and secondary glaucoma 1, retinal detachment 1, large chorioretinal scar 3, phthisis bulbi 2. Non-vision-threatening ocular disease was present in 56 horses (33.9%) involving one or more ocular structures: eyelid trauma/notch defect 14 (8.5%), SCC-type adnexal lesions 12 (7.3%), corneal scars 16 (9.7%), keratitis 6 (3.6%), corpora nigra cyst 15 (9.1%), incipient/punctate cataract 50 (30.3%), vitreous degeneration 10 (6.1%), asteroid hyalosis 1, "bullethole" chorioretinal scars 3, RPE coloboma 1. Linear keratopathy was present in 28 horses (17%) with 2/28 having concurrent vision threatening ocular disease. Conclusions: Ocular abnormalities, in particular minor cataracts, were relatively common in this population, but not typically vision-threatening. Additionally, this survey demonstrated a greater prevalence of linear keratopathy in draft horses compared with reports in other breeds; however, it does not appear to be associated with concurrent ocular disease.
© 2022 The Authors. Veterinary Ophthalmology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.
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Publication Date: 2022-06-30 PubMed ID: 35771164DOI: 10.1111/vop.13009Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article investigates the prevalence of eye diseases in working breeds of horses in the United States. The study uses different tests and examinations to identify any abnormalities, and concludes that although minor cataracts are relatively common in this horse population, they usually do not threaten their vision.

Research Method

The article describes the method used to investigate eye health in draft horses. This included:

  • A non-dilated ophthalmic examination to study the horse’s eye health. This involved the use of a slit lamp microscope and an indirect ophthalmoscope. These tests provide important details about the horse’s eye, including its size, shape, and any abnormalities detected.
  • Measurements of intraocular pressure in the horses’ eyes. This pressure can indicate conditions such as glaucoma, and can reflect the overall health of the horse’s eye.

Study Sample

The study focused on 165 draft horses, ranging in age from 10 days to 33 years old, and included different breeds of horses. The gender distribution of the horses was noted, with geldings (neutered male horses) making up the majority of the sample.

Results

Among the horses examined, 9 (or 5.5%) were found to be suffering from serious eye conditions that could potentially threaten their vision. These conditions included cataracts, uveitis and secondary glaucoma, optic nerve atrophy which occurred post-trauma, retinal detachment, large chorioretinal scars, and phthisis bulbi – a condition characterized by a shrunken or atrophied eyeball.

A slightly larger group of horses, or 33.9%, were identified as having non-vision-threatening eye conditions. These included various conditions such as corpora nigra cyst, eyelid trauma or notch defect, corneal scars, asteroid hyalosis, keratitis, and “bullethole” chorioretinal scars.

Conclusions

The study concluded that minor cataracts were fairly common among the horses studied, but these were not usually vision-threatening. Furthermore, the survey found a higher prevalence of a condition known as linear keratopathy in draft horses, which was not typically associated with concurrent eye disease.

Cite This Article

APA
Sheridan CK, Myrna KE, Nunnery CM, Czerwinski SL. (2022). Survey of ocular abnormalities in draft horses. Vet Ophthalmol, 26(2), 101-107. https://doi.org/10.1111/vop.13009

Publication

Veterinary ophthalmology
ISSN: 1463-5224
NlmUniqueID: 100887377
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 26
Issue: 2
Pages: 101-107

Researcher Affiliations

Sheridan, Colleen K
  • Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.
Myrna, Kathern E
  • Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.
Nunnery, Catherine M
  • Equine Veterinary Vision Inc., Alexandria, Virginia, USA.
Czerwinski, Sarah L
  • Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Horses
  • Animals
  • Male
  • Female
  • Cataract / veterinary
  • Glaucoma / veterinary
  • Uveitis / veterinary
  • Intraocular Pressure
  • Tonometry, Ocular
  • Corneal Diseases / veterinary
  • Orbital Diseases / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases / pathology

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This article includes 18 references
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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Ing ST, Pinard CL, James-Jenks EM, Leis ML. A retrospective survey of equine ocular diseases evaluated at a referral hospital in Ontario (2011 to 2021). Can Vet J 2025 Mar;66(3):308-317.
    pubmed: 40070935
  2. Allen R, Goodhead AD. A survey of ocular pathology in Warmblood horses in South Africa. Equine Vet J 2025 Jul;57(4):889-897.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14427pubmed: 39535442google scholar: lookup
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