Equine Eye Care

As prey animals horses have evolved to be on the constant look out for danger. Their eyes are large and laterally positioned, providing a panoramic field of vision to help them scan for potential predators. The down side is that the size and prominent location of the equine eye makes it highly susceptible to damage.

Eye damage = emergency

Most problems involving the equine eye should be treated as a veterinary emergency. Damage caused by disease or injury can advance rapidly, causing severe pain, which may ultimately compromise or completely destroy vision.

Structure of the equine eye

The eye is a fluid filled sphere connected to the brain via the optic nerve. The clear surface of the eye is called the cornea and the internal coloured part is the iris, which comprises a thin ring of muscle. This enables the central pupil to open or close to regulate light entering the back of the eye through the lens and onto the retina where images are formed. Inside, the part of the eye in front of the lens is the anterior chamber, which is filled with a thick clear fluid known as aqueous humor. Behind the lens is the posterior chamber, which is filled with a clear jelly-like substance called vitreous humor.

To manage your horse’s health routine – try our HorseDialog mobile app

Special protection

The horse, like a number of other animals, has a special protective structure for its eyes in the form of a third eyelid. This membrane can automatically move over the eye from the inside corner to the outside corner to help shield the eye from potential trauma.

Four common equine eye problems