What is the most common cause of blindness in horses?

Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU), also known as moon blindness, is the most common cause of blindness in horses worldwide. It affects 2-25% of horses globally, with 56% of affected horses eventually becoming blind.

What causes sudden blindness in horses?

SUDDEN BLINDNESS Acute blindness may be associated with head or ocular trauma, ERU, glaucoma, cataracts, intraocular hemorrhage, exudative optic neuritis, retinal detachment or CNS disease. Acutely blind horses are extremely agitated, anxious and dangerous.

Is moon blindness permanent?

Causes of Uveitis But in the chronic, repeating form known as equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) or moon blindness, the disease can lead to permanent damage and eventually blindness—and it’s this manifestation that horse owners particularly worry about.

Is moon blindness curable?

There is currently no cure for ERU. Episodes of redness, tearing, and squinting may be early indicators of eye issues. Equine recurrent uveitis can affect one eye or both eyes, and may cause more severe signs in one eye than the other.

How do I know if my horse has moon blindness?

Symptoms of moon blindness include inflammation and redness of the eye area, murkiness or white discoloration of the eye, tearing, squinting, and profuse but clear tearing. The horse will be reluctant to be in bright sunlight. Although it may not be evident, the horse will be feeling pain from the symptoms.

How can I tell if my horse is going blind?

Most horses can see extremely thin objects and will step over them. Walk your horse over dark ground that abruptly changes to a light color, such as where black pavement meets light concrete. Visually impaired horses may be wary of stepping on terrain with sudden color changes.

Can a horse recover from moon blindness?

Recovery of Moon Blindness in Horses This condition is progressive, as is the eye damage. The veterinarian will need to take action and do the best he can with aggressive methods of treatment. Recovery depends on your horse and the severity of his moon blindness.

What is the most common disease in horses?

The most common diseases in horses

• Flu.
• Colic.
• Tetanus.
• Equine encephalitis.
• Babesiosis (piroplasmosis)
• Mumps.

How do you treat moon blindness in horses?

Treatment for Moon Blindness Treatment will likely include steroids, and drugs that will help the horse’s pupil dilate. You will want to protect your horse from bright light with either a mask or by keeping it indoors. Each time the condition reoccurs, you will need to resume treatment.

How do you know if your horse has eye problems?

Changes in the coloration of the eyeball (white or blue haze), hair loss and/or redness around the eye, and mild squinting are also indicative that something is wrong. It is common for horses to rub their eyes when there’s mild discomfort, and this conduct may exacerbate the initial problem.

How do you deal with a blind horse?

Hanging a wind chime near the water trough or run-in shed is a way to give the horse some extra guidance. A radio playing in a nearby barn will also help the horse stay oriented. Avoid turning the blind horse out in a large group of horses, but don’t isolate him, either. Choose a quiet horse to be a buddy.

Can a blind horse survive?

A blind horse is dangerous. In this situation the animal should be brought into a corral or stall by itself, immediately seen by a vet, and given time to adjust to blindness. But once adapted to blindness, nearly all horses get along just fine.

Acute, sudden blindness might be associated with head or eye trauma, ERU, glaucoma, cataracts, intraocular hemorrhage, optic neuritis, retinal detachment, or brain disease. Newly blind horses are extremely agitated, anxious, and can be dangerous.

What are symptoms of blind horses?

Swollen eyelids.

Is my horse Blind in one eye?

Corneal ulcers are common in horses and and as a result a lot of horses are blind in one eye. The biggest issue with them is they can be a bit jumpy because they have that blind side, and on the trail you have to give them enough freedom to turn their head to the blind side to see.

How to handle moon blindness in horses?

Use a fly masks during an attack. Fly masks can help keep symptoms from getting worse during symptom attacks.