At Cambridge Equine Clinic, ophthalmology cases are among our most common reasons for visits. A painful eye problem should be taken seriously and seen urgently.
Horses with an ocular issue may present with any of the following signs:
- Redeye
- Blepharospasm (holding eye shut)
- Ocular discharge such as excess watering
- Photophobia (avoiding light)
- Colour changes
- Cloudy appearance to front of the eye (cornea)
Our team are well versed in managing a wide range of eye cases, and we all carry the basic equipment to deal with the majority of eye problems in our vehicles. Sometimes more in-depth investigative techniques must be used, such as tissue sampling and culture, ultrasound, eye pressure measurement and slit lamp examination.
It is usually possible to employ these techniques on an ambulatory basis as well. One of the benefits of being embedded within the University of Cambridge Vet School is we often have a specialist ophthalmologist on site! They are happy to discuss cases with our vets and attend calls with our team for the more tricky cases.
Our hospitalisation facilities allow us to admit certain cases to the clinic, including those pesky patients that make effective medication difficult! This means that horses can receive extensive care from our knowledgeable team using techniques best suited to a clinic environment.
The most common ocular conditions we see are:
- Conjunctivitis
- Corneal Ulcers
- Cataracts
- Keratitis
- Uveitis
- Ocular neoplasia
- Lid injuries
Time is of the essence when eye problems first occur because they can quickly progress and cause your horse a great deal of discomfort and sometimes permanent damage. If you have any concerns regarding your animal’s eyes, please do not hesitate to get in touch!
To discuss a case or arrange a consultation, please call or email Cambridge Equine Clinic on:
01223 760535 / cambridgeequine@vet.cam.ac.uk
