Blindness :,(

[zpiper]

Heartbroken. My beautiful gelding has been diagnosed with cataracts in his left eye & according to vet is blind in that eye accept for shadows. I am writing in hopes that someone who has been through this can share their experience to help us through this.

I realize there are plenty of partially and completely blind horses who lead fulfilled lives and I have a bond with this guy so I plan to be his leader and left eye while he adjusts…BUT…I have some concerns about the diagnosis and will sleep better if I can get some input from other knowledgeable horse owners. I tried to keep it short but there’s some history that may be relevant.

My vet is well respected & it goes against my nature to question him but even though I’ve told him these details of my horses’ history…I have this nagging feeling and want to be sure I’m not overlooking anything.

I’ve had this horse 15 yrs. I do all his care and handle him daily. I’ve been keeping a close watch on the eye as it began tearing (clear weeping) a few months ago. I have noticed some “greying” of the area around the pupil. I asked the vet a few months ago and he attributed it to flies/allergies/age. He’s stall kept, under fan, fly mask.

History: former rescue from s fla coastal pasture (oc that was over 15 yrs ago so not sure it matters-according to vet reports he was suffering from severe dermatitis, allergic to cullicoides, collic due to stress). Even now, although he has a dappled coat thick mane and tail, he still gets very itchy/flaky mane, bald spots at midline, itchy ears & now the eye. Based on that and 3 severe tendon/ligament injuries…I asked if neck threadworms could be the issue. Vet COMPLETELY negated! Basically said it’s hype, in all his years, he’s never had or heard of eyes being affected…

This could be a completely different issue but he has also been experiencing loose stools for the past year. Again, under vet care - fecals, reg worming schedule, metamucil for sand. It’s very inconsistent…some days I even have apples! WooHoo!

So… whether any of that is relevant or just age I don’t know - he’s a young 24 y/o. Regarding the eye - I expect some deterioration but it just seems so sudden. A day ago fine, last night, completely blind. Poor baby…he’s so jumpy. My heart breaks for him. TIA for any advice.

[ElementFarm]

I’m so sorry for what you are both going through.

I have a very nice WB mare who was actively showing successfully. We noticed some cloudiness one day, and the barn vet said it was nothing serious, and advised a topical medication and fly mask for a week. 2 weeks later with no change, we brought her to the state clinic ophthalmology. They diagnosed an inoperable tumor.
We keep an eye on the eye, and mare is still sound and happy, and you’d never know her vision was compromised, even though she only has about 30% vision in that eye. If she wasn’t nursing a foal, she’d still be showing and no one would guess there was an issue.

A good friend had an older WB mare with eye issues when she purchased her. The horse’s regular vet had said she was 100% blind in one eye, and had the owner treating and protecting the one good eye that had 50% vision. When the owner moved, she took the mare to an ophthalmology specialist, and they said the original vet had them treating the wrong eye!!

Based on both my experience, and hers, I would never NOT take a significant eye issue to a equine ophthalmology specialist. Most regular vets, even highly competent ones, just don’t have the same diagnostic experience as a specialist. Eyesight is so important, I recommend you seek a second, highly-qualified individual, even if it means a significant trailer ride.

partial or total loss of vision in one eye is very manageable, but you want to know what you are dealing with, and have a chance to consider all, if any, treatment options. Good luck and keep us posted!

[Laurierace]

I would see an ophthalmologist. You may be able to get it taken out without too much trouble.

[findeight]

Yup, equine opthomologist for sure. It’s a complicated area of horse health and general practice vets can’t be a master of that kind of specialty, even good ones. It’s unreasonable to expect them to be.

However most work out of larger clinics and are expensive. If you can afford it and one is within a reasonable distance, go. If not? You can probably manage him well enough as a 24 year old semi retiree working with your GP vet. There’s likely not a ton you can do treatment wise if it is cataracts besides surgery if it’s operable-and not all cataracts are.

You can also get a second opinion closer you one from another GP vet. I might start there if the specialist is an unrealistic haul or price out of reach. Maybe also arrange with local a vet to consult with a specialist.

In a perfect world specialists would be available at every vet practice and/or everybody could haul hundreds of miles to one. Just in case OP does not have either option available, she shouldn’t feel guilty.

[cayuse]

I had a pony that was partially blind in one eye from having opthalmologic surgery. She adjusted very well. If you are having any doubts (that nagging feeling you mentioned) I would have a consult with an opthamologist if you can, or a second opinion to set your mind at ease.
My old girl jumped out of her paddock with only a two stride start and cleared it spectacularly after her surgery, so they can do OK.
Jingles for your horse.

[cloudyandcallie]

The university of Florida vet school has a very good department for eye problems for horses including transplants… And vet schools are less expensive than private vets. Cataracts can be removed from dogs and cats, so why not from the eyes of horses. Get a referral and take your horse there.

[pezk]

You need a specialist. Regular vets can’t dx everything. Found the closest vet school or clinic with specialists in eye problems and make appt.

[Quelah]

I’m so sorry and you have my deepest sympathy. Several years ago we bought the stunning horse of a lifetime for my husband. Coal black, 1/2 Andalusian 1/2 TB, three high whites and a blaze and a gallop that made my husband smile and event riders whip out their checkbooks. We had him started under saddle, trail rode him joyfully for a summer, and then one day coming home he spooked big and hard. Totally out of character. Long story short, at the young age of 7, he had developed severe cataracts. He was fully insured so money was not an issue really. We tried to save his sight with a lens replacement. The surgery was done by a veterinary ophthalmologist who is very experienced and respected. He was very upfront about risks and odds. People are best candidates for lens replacement, then dogs, then horses. At first everything seemed to have gone swimmingly, and then at 10 days the retina detached and the blindness in that eye was complete and permanent.

So he was blind in one eye and compromised in the other. I did what I felt was the only right thing, I sent him over the bridge. I did not do it lightly. He was in every other way the picture of health. Glossy, dappled, he even had great feet! But to me, a horse is a prey animal, and a horse that cannot see, knows they cannot run, lives in some degree of constant fear. Even a horse content in their stable is still what they are, a horse. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, and I know it was even hard for my vet, but I’ve never regretted it.

I don’t know if that helps or not, but that’s my story.

[khall]

I owned a horse that ended up with a melting ulcer in her left eye that ruptured and had to be removed. She lived quite happily with just one eye, even lunged both directions! The only issue was that she would be caught unawares by horses on her blind side so I had to be careful who she went out with. She was happiest when I led her with the blind side towards me, made her feel safer. She was ridden some even with just one eye no real trouble. Was euthanized at 21 for DJD.

I have no experience with cataracts in horses. I hope you can get some answers and I too recommend a ophthalmology specialist.

[quietann]

[QUOTE=cloudyandcallie;8650731]
The university of Florida vet school has a very good department for eye problems for horses including transplants… And vet schools are less expensive than private vets. Cataracts can be removed from dogs and cats, so why not from the eyes of horses. Get a referral and take your horse there.[/QUOTE]

Very good idea!

I took my mare to Tufts in January when we thought some of her behavioral changes might be due to eye problems. Had the senior vet Opthalmologist anda bunch of students swarming around and using all kinds of equipment; luckily she was sedated for most of it.

It turns out that her eyes are completely normal. And it made the opthalmologist’s day to have a horse with normal eyes, but a few misleading features in them, for his students to work on.

It was not expensive at all. My total bill – also including a very thorough repro exam and some other stuff – was about $800 and the Opth. was maybe half of that total.

[RedHorses]

My first horse gradually lost the sight in one eye over our years together. He did have a white floater in that eye and when I asked about it the vet said it could possibly be a dead neck threadworm. He offered to stick a needle in and suck it out, but I cringed and declined. The retina eventually detached and trapped the floater at the bottom of his eye but he was totally blind in that eye by then anyway.

He was wary of noises on his blind side, and tended to walked close to the edge of the trail on his sighted side unless I put him in the middle. But otherwise he was fine. You do have to be aware of it and be careful to keep them clear of obstacles on the blind side or risk losing their trust in you.

[zpiper]

[QUOTE=Quelah;8650792]
I’m so sorry and you have my deepest sympathy. Several years ago we bought the stunning horse of a lifetime for my husband. Coal black, 1/2 Andalusian 1/2 TB, three high whites and a blaze and a gallop that made my husband smile and event riders whip out their checkbooks. We had him started under saddle, trail rode him joyfully for a summer, and then one day coming home he spooked big and hard. Totally out of character. Long story short, at the young age of 7, he had developed severe cataracts. He was fully insured so money was not an issue really. We tried to save his sight with a lens replacement. The surgery was done by a veterinary ophthalmologist who is very experienced and respected. He was very upfront about risks and odds. People are best candidates for lens replacement, then dogs, then horses. At first everything seemed to have gone swimmingly, and then at 10 days the retina detached and the blindness in that eye was complete and permanent.

So he was blind in one eye and compromised in the other. I did what I felt was the only right thing, I sent him over the bridge. I did not do it lightly. He was in every other way the picture of health. Glossy, dappled, he even had great feet! But to me, a horse is a prey animal, and a horse that cannot see, knows they cannot run, lives in some degree of constant fear. Even a horse content in their stable is still what they are, a horse. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, and I know it was even hard for my vet, but I’ve never regretted it.

I don’t know if that helps or not, but that’s my story.[/QUOTE]

Thank you for sharing your story. I am sorry you had to go through that. I do believe in not ever letting an animal suffer - and constant fear imo is suffering. I am hopeful that his “good eye” stays good at least long enough for us to have some more quality days together. I actually rode him today - with helmet/in ring! He was wonderful…until the wind started whipping and nasty crows starting squawking. He was nervous but did very well considering.

[zpiper]

[QUOTE=Quelah;8650792]
I’m so sorry and you have my deepest sympathy. Several years ago we bought the stunning horse of a lifetime for my husband. Coal black, 1/2 Andalusian 1/2 TB, three high whites and a blaze and a gallop that made my husband smile and event riders whip out their checkbooks. We had him started under saddle, trail rode him joyfully for a summer, and then one day coming home he spooked big and hard. Totally out of character. Long story short, at the young age of 7, he had developed severe cataracts. He was fully insured so money was not an issue really. We tried to save his sight with a lens replacement. The surgery was done by a veterinary ophthalmologist who is very experienced and respected. He was very upfront about risks and odds. People are best candidates for lens replacement, then dogs, then horses. At first everything seemed to have gone swimmingly, and then at 10 days the retina detached and the blindness in that eye was complete and permanent.

So he was blind in one eye and compromised in the other. I did what I felt was the only right thing, I sent him over the bridge. I did not do it lightly. He was in every other way the picture of health. Glossy, dappled, he even had great feet! But to me, a horse is a prey animal, and a horse that cannot see, knows they cannot run, lives in some degree of constant fear. Even a horse content in their stable is still what they are, a horse. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, and I know it was even hard for my vet, but I’ve never regretted it.

I don’t know if that helps or not, but that’s my story.[/QUOTE]

Thank you for sharing your story. I am sorry you had to go through that. I do believe in not ever letting an animal suffer - and constant fear imo is suffering. I am hopeful that his “good eye” stays good at least long enough for us to have some more quality days together. I actually rode him today - with helmet/in ring! He was wonderful…until the wind started whipping and nasty crows starting squawking. He was nervous but did very well considering.

[Real_Rush]

My beloved Rush had bilateral uveitis in his eyes and developed a hyper mature cataract in his right eye because of it. I was able to get a referral from my regular vet for treatment at UGA’s vet school so he could get regular checkups with an optho specialist. I was a much more financially strapped horse owner then, and the visits did not break the bank. I was told that cataracts can be removed, but it also removes the lense of the eye. So, while it restores vision, it leaves them no depth perception. Unfortunately, the retina became detached first, necessitating an enucleation (removal).

I would definitely ask your vet for a referral to your nearest teaching hospital. The main thing is to find out if there is an underlying condition that caused the cataract in the first place. In Rush’s case, removing the cataract would not have helped much because he still would have had the uveitis, which is a degenerative disease. On a positive note, he adapted to the loss of vision in his eye very well and could still jump 3’ without issues. (Only his arthritis kept him from going higher.) Hope this helps, and good luck with your guy!

[walkers]

Just went through this with older horse. I went to NCSU vet school ophthalmologist (one of the best in the country) just to see if they agreed with my local vets diagnosis. I think the charge was less than $200. Well worth my piece of mind about having to have the eye removed. I found it a very difficult thing to do even though there was no other alternative. So the second opinion helped my piece of mind.
So if you our close to a Vet school,talk to the ophthalmologist and say you just want a consult.
My local vet did the surgery because it was half the cost of the vet school. I told the Vet at theNCSU vet school this and he was cool with it, in fact one of the students came out to watch the local vet do the surgery.
So be assertive about what you want but really everyone was so kind and helpful. Also my horse is doing very well and he immediately showed some happiness at being out of pain.

[cheektwocheek]

So sorry to read about your guy. Mine lost his eye a Month or so ago, so I can relate to the shock.

What I’ve had to learn…
Chit chat a little more, so he knows where you are. I also give a wide birth when leading, especially in or around corners. The longe line ended up being no problem, once again, talk a lot. Mine still bangs into things though, I’m letting those whiskers grow super long. Don’t treat him like a piece of glass

Jingles for both of you!

[RhythmNCruise]

Aw, hugs to you and your fella.
I have nothing really to add except I’ll never forget standing in the line-up at the end of a class many (MANY) years ago and looking over at the horse beside me and gasping. No eye.

Pretty sure he beat me in that class. He was a good horse, I remember that too.

I’m sure it’s spooky to them at first, but it’s amazing how animals can adapt.

[Hermein]

My next door neighbor just bought a very pretty paint gelding with blue eyes at auction. We think that he has vision problems because he walks into people standing on his off side–which is probably why he was being sold at a feedlot auction. The vet (who was at my house to see one of my horses) didn’t see any obvious problems with this horse’s eye, but did advise her to keep a fly mask on him all the time. Neighbor wasn’t upset, having experience with moving cattle while riding a horse with only one good eye.

[zpiper]

Thank you all for the replies. I really do appreciate it. I’ve had the some time to digest what’s happened to my sweet boy. I think after the severe bowed tendon a few years ago - my then vet (not same one) told me he’d be nothing more than lawn ornament. So after nursing him $-L-O-W-L-Y & diligently through that and getting him back to riding shape-then to have him tear his suspensory in the other front leg 6 months ago and painstakingly nursing him back from that and getting back to nice walks around the property and just working our way up to light trots…this just really stinks & was far from what I had expected… but enough of the pity party. I realize many horses go on to lead active lives so I will do all I can to help him adjust. I will get a second opinion as my vet said his “good” eye was “fine” but yesterday I noticed what looks like a blueish hue to that lense. Hoping I’m wrong! I have decided against the stress of trailering him to our nearest vet school. 3 hours on a noisy interstate when I’m not going to consider putting him through the stress of surgery/more confinement post op…just wouldn’t be fair to him at his age. I’ll do my best to keep him healthy and happy and hopefully continue with our light rides around the property once he adjusts. Thanks again!

[Blumeroo]

I’m so sorry for what you are going through zpiper. I have gone though the loss of vision with my mare as well.

Long story short…she poked her eye years ago out in her pasture. Small scratch on the cornea that was treated and was fine for many years. Eventually, that same eye was causing some problems and I had several vets and opthalmologists look at it, and they couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was happening, except that she was losing her vision. She was roughly 14 when this started. She was spooky and unsure for about a year. It was a rough year but we go through it.

I found that doing a lot of ground work again, taught her to trust me fully and how adjust to her new field of vision. Eventually she adjusted and now she’s 19. We do trail riding, small jumps for fun, cowboy challenge etc… She’s pretty much a normal horse now except she does turn her head to check things out with her good eye.

I’ve been lucky in that her eye does not seem to cause her any pain or discomfort, so I haven’t had to do an enucleation.

My advice is to take everything day by day and be a good leader for your guy. Horses are amazing creatures!