Ocular Emergencies

Injuries to the eye are a common emergency in horses, and require immediate veterinary attention.

Key Points:

• Ocular (eye) emergencies are common in the horse due to their size and location
• If untreated, eye issues can rapidly become catastrophic and costly, and may endanger the horse’s sight
• Ocular trauma or abnormalities should always be considered an emergency

Due to their large size and location on the side of the horse’s head, trauma or injury to the eye is relatively common. Common ocular conditions include corneal ulcers, uveitis, eyelid lacerations, foreign bodies, and conjunctivitis. 

Some common clinical signs of problems associated with the eye may include squinting, swelling, sensitivity to touch around the eye, discharge from the eye, and/or blue haziness or cloudiness in the eye.