Countryside Equine Vet, Dr. Zoe Lattimer performing an eye exam.
Opthamology

Equine Eye Care

Horses' eyes are incredibly delicate and this, combined with the horse's dependence on the sense of sight, means that any sign of a potential eye problem should be treated immediately.

The eyes are critical to the health, performance and well-being of your horse. Eye injuries can be devastating to a horse if they're not treated appropriately and with urgency.

Here at Countryside, we offer medical and surgical treatment options along with the latest drug therapies. Any damage to the horse's eye is considered an emergency.

If your horse is experiencing any eye or vision problems, call us immediately at (770) 788-7387.

What are common

Equine Eye Problems?

1
Corneal Ulcers, are sores that develop on the cornea. They are the most common eye disturbance in horses.
2
Cataracts are a condition in which the lens becomes cloudy, which then affects sight and eventually causes blindness.
3
Glaucoma is a rare, yet severe eye problem where pressure within the eye increases due to poor fluid drainage.  It occurs most frequently in older horses and Appaloosas.
4
Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most common type of cancer in horses. It can affect the eyelids, the whites of the eye, or the cornea. Luckily, it does’t metastasize very often, but it can be destructive.
5
Equine Recurrent Uveitis, also known as Moon Blindness, is a leading cause of blindness in horses.
6
Blindness can affect one or both eyes and occurs in about 1 - 2% of horses.
Signs Your Horse May Have

An Injured Eye

Redness
Excessive tearing
Heavy discharge from the eye
Squinting
Swelling around the eye
Cloudiness of the eye

If your horse is excessively rubbing their eye against objects, they may be trying to relieve pain or irritation. This rubbing can easily increase trauma to your horse's eye and quickly create a serious problem.

Administering Treatment

Eye Trauma

Administering treatment for eye trauma can be challenging and painful. Management of serious eye problems often requires multiple treatments per day and may extend for several weeks.

Equine Eye Trauma Recovery
SPL (subpalpebral lavage) system
used to deliver medications directly
into the eye area.
Equine Eye Trauma Recovery
A "bubble mask" is also
used to protect the
eye further.
From the Blog

News & Articles

As many of our clients know, we love sharing our knowledge and important animal health news. Our blog contains valuable educational resources in one easy location.

Feb 27

The "Non-Steriod" Future of Arthritis Treatment

From training to competition, repetitive movements and trauma can lead to inflammation of the joint. There is a new, non-steroid, biotechnology treatment available.
More
Feb 1

Signs your horse may be dealing with a muscle disorder

Has your horse’s performance declined? Has he or she lost muscle across its top-line? Are you exerting a lot of effort to get and keep your horse going? This Post delves into muscle disorders.
More
Jan 6

All About Hoof Health

The foundation of a horse’s health is a strong, healthy hoof. Read on for insightful tips and proactive planning to ensure your horse has happy feet all year round.
More
Jun 8

Common Health Problems in Horses

Arthritis afflicts horses as they age similarly to humans. Colic is a severe horse condition that can strike at any time. Laminitis is a condition that strikes a horse's...
More
Jun 6

Arthroscopy: Revolutionizing Equine Joint Conditions

This advanced non-invasive technique allows the surgeon to navigate and evaluate a horse's joint and its cartilage to find any irritation, bone chips or areas needing to be cleaned.
More
May 1

Caring For Your Horse As The Weather Warms

As the weather changes, temperatures and humidity rise, and insects become more active, you’ll want to take extra precautions...
More
Jan 24

Joint Management in Horses

Horses are high performance athletes. Their movement provides the ultimate combination of strength and coordination. But, what really helps a horse achieve...
More
Jun 10

4 Specialty Equine Vet Services You Didn't Know We Offered

Come On In To Learn & Understand. Today, let’s explore some of the equine services we offer to help your gentle giant live their best life possible.
More
Apr 19

Chasing the Ulcer Diagnosis - Why It's Worth It

Some horses with ulcers are easy to spot - they lose their appetites or experience chronic colic. Sometimes it’s hard to recognize a horse suffering from...
More
1 Mar

The "Non-Steriod" Future of Arthritis Treatment

From training to competition, repetitive movements and trauma can lead to inflammation of the joint. There is a new, non-steroid, biotechnology treatment available.
More
1 Feb

Signs your horse may be dealing with a muscle disorder

Has your horse’s performance declined? Has he or she lost muscle across its top-line? Are you exerting a lot of effort to get and keep your horse going? This Post delves into muscle disorders.
More
6 Jan

All About Hoof Health

The foundation of a horse’s health is a strong, healthy hoof. Read on for insightful tips and proactive planning to ensure your horse has happy feet all year round.
More
8 Jun

Common Health Problems in Horses

Arthritis afflicts horses as they age similarly to humans. Colic is a severe horse condition that can strike at any time. Laminitis is a condition that strikes a horse's...
More
6 Jun

Arthroscopy: Revolutionizing Equine Joint Conditions

This advanced non-invasive technique allows the surgeon to navigate and evaluate a horse's joint and its cartilage to find any irritation, bone chips or areas needing to be cleaned.
More
1 May

Caring For Your Horse As The Weather Warms

As the weather changes, temperatures and humidity rise, and insects become more active, you’ll want to take extra precautions...
More
24 Jan

Joint Management in Horses

Horses are high performance athletes. Their movement provides the ultimate combination of strength and coordination. But, what really helps a horse achieve...
More
10 Jun

4 Specialty Equine Vet Services You Didn't Know We Offered

Come On In To Learn & Understand. Today, let’s explore some of the equine services we offer to help your gentle giant live their best life possible.
More