Eye conditions are common in horses and often easy to resolve rapidly. However, they are prone to deteriorating quickly and can then become difficult to treat. As such we would urge owners to take any form for eye discharge or squinting seriously and call for a visit or advice.

Signs signifying eye pain that require examination by a vet include:

• tearing/watery discharge from one or both eyes;
• squinting;
• prominent third eyelid position;
• change in pupil size or shape;
• ocular discharge: white or yellow;
• blood from the eye;
• changes in colour of the eye surface: cloudiness/blue tinge;
• swelling of the eyelid(s); and
• wounds affecting the eyelids.

In more complex or difficult to manage cases we may recommend placement of a subpalpebral lavage system or subconjunctival injections which make administration of treatment much easier. In some cases treatments may need to be applied every couple of hours and we welcome such cases at the clinic for the initial intensive treatment if the owner would prefer.

Our vets are experienced in managing ocular problems and we are able to offer more advanced techniques such as intraocular pressure measurements, ultrasonographic imaging of the ocular structures and even surgical treatments where required. We also work closely with the team of specialist ophthalmologists at Optivet and can arrange in house referrals to ensure your animal gets the care they need, where you want it.