Equine Recurrent Uveitis, commonly known as Moon Blindness, is a painful inflammatory eye condition in horses, characterized by recurrent episodes of inflammation within the uveal tract, potentially leading to vision loss if left untreated.

Equine Recurrent Uveitis (Moon Blindness)

Seek veterinary advice before applying any treatment.

Equine Recurrent Uveitis also referred to as Moon Blindness, is the leading cause of blindness in horses worldwide. It is an acute, painful, autoimmune disease, which causes the inflammation of the eye and leads to the horse’s own immune system attacking the eye’s tissue.

Symptoms

  • Teary
  • Unresponsive pupil
  • Squinting
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Cloudy
  • Reddened
  • Swollen
  • Change in iris colour
  • Spasms
  • Unresponsive
  • Constricted pupil/s
  • Increased blinking

Common in the following breeds

  • Am. Paint Horse
  • Appaloosa
  • Drafts
  • Warmbloods

Treatment

Treatment plans include the usage of topical steroids and systemic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories in order to decrease inflammation in the eye.

Topical atropine can be used to reduce intraocular pain and cause mydriasis, the dilation of the pupil. In more serious and progressed cases which cause the horse pain, and enucleation, the removal of the affected eye, is often the best solution.

Prevention

Proper health maintenance, such as reducing exposure to dirty bedding, insects and livestock can help.

Prevention of trauma to the eye, and reducing environmental triggers can prevent episodes.

How Happie can help you manage your horse's health

Digital health management offers numerous benefits in modern equine healthcare.

With the Happie Horse App, you can track symptom patterns and body values, such as Temperature, Pulse and Respiration. Allowing you to notice abnormal changes in body and behaviour early on, leading to more successful treatments.

The Happie symptom checker allows you to add all of your horse's abnormal symptoms in order to present potential causes and diseases.

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