Ophthalmological examination for horses

Eye examination without a trip to the clinic

Your horse's eyes are sensitive, and minor injuries can quickly become serious. We thoroughly examine the eyes directly in the stable, without the stressful drive to the clinic. We are members of the Working Group for Eye Medicine in Horses and participate in the latest training courses and congresses in Germany on this topic every year.

When you should inform us

Please inform us on the same day if your horse

• the eye becomes swollen or tears excessively,
• sensitive to light,
• has a cloudiness or a spot in the eye,
• has a red or swollen eye or eyelid,
• a teary secret is lost from the eye,
• an injury to the eyelid – an incomplete closure of the eyelid can permanently damage the eye,
• He has blood in the eye socket.

Even seemingly harmless injuries to the eye can lead to permanent damage without treatment.

This is how we investigate

We begin with a clinical examination: behavior, light reactions, and external signs. Depending on the findings, we proceed with one of the following:

• Ophthalmoscope: the entire eye from the cornea to the back of the eye (retina)
• Spalt lamp: Cornea, lens, iris and ocular background
• Fluorescein test: makes the smallest corneal injuries visible
• Tonometer: measures the intraocular pressure, e.g. in cases of suspected glaucoma or ERU
• Ultrasound: Glass bodies, lenses, eye chambers and retina
• Laboratory samples: microbiologically, mycologically or pathologically

Treatment

Depending on the findings, we target specific actions:

• selected eye ointments
• Eye injections
• Tear duct flushing

All treatments are carried out under sterile conditions and as gently as possible. Early examinations help to detect diseases such as conjunctivitis, corneal defects, immune-mediated keratitis (IMMK), glaucoma, or ERU (eye disease). More about the most common diseases: Uveitis and Corneal defects.

Frequently asked questions

Is a corneal injury an emergency?
Yes, she should be examined on the same day because her condition can deteriorate quickly.

Does my horse need to be sedated for the examination?
In most cases, a complete eye examination can be performed patiently without sedation. If the eye is very painful, sedation is sometimes recommended, as otherwise not all examinations will be possible and an important detail could be overlooked.