Which Disease Can Lead To Cataract Formation And Blindness In Horses?

Cumulative damage caused by ERU can lead to cataracts, glaucoma, and eventually blindness. Although not all horses that experience a single episode of uveitis will develop ERU, they are at risk for disease.

What causes cataracts in horses?

The majority of cataracts in horses occur in adult animals. They most commonly develop secondary to diseases that cause intraocular inflammation, such as Equine Recurrent Uveitis (ERU, moon blindness). The second most common cause of equine cataract is trauma – both blunt and sharp trauma.

Which disease can lead to cataract formation and blindness?

Some people are born with cataracts or develop them during childhood. These cataracts may be genetic, or associated with an intrauterine infection or trauma. These cataracts may also be due to certain conditions, such as myotonic dystrophy, galactosemia, neurofibromatosis type 2 or rubella.

Which ophthalmic disease is the most common cause of blindness in horses?

Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU), also known as Moon Blindness or Periodic Ophthalmia, is a leading cause of blindness in horses worldwide. It is one of the most common diseases of the equine eye, with an estimated prevalence of 2-25% in the United States.

What is the most common cause of eye problems in the horse?

Horses are particularly vulnerable to ocular trauma because their eyes are large and positioned on the sides of the head. Corneal ulcers are one of the most common eye conditions caused by trauma. The cornea is a transparent membrane in the front of the eye.

What is the most common cause of cataracts?

Most cataracts are caused by normal changes in your eyes as you get older. When you’re young, the lens in your eye is clear. Around age 40, the proteins in the lens of your eye start to break down and clump together. This clump makes a cloudy area on your lens — or a cataract.

What causes horse blindness?

Equine Recurrent Uveitis (ERU) is an immune-mediated inflammatory condition of the eye and is the most common cause of blindness in horses. It may affect one or both eyes. You may have heard other names for this disease, such as Moon Blindness, Iridocyclitis, and Periodic Ophthalmia.

What is the disease known as cataracts?

Cataracts are the clouding of the lens of your eye, which is normally clear. Most cataracts develop slowly over time, causing symptoms such as blurry vision. Cataracts can be surgically removed through an outpatient procedure that restores vision in nearly everyone.

What are the 3 cataracts causes?

Types of Cataract

• Age-related cataract. As you age, a cataract can develop because of natural changes in the lens of your eye.
• Traumatic cataract. Serious eye injuries can damage your lens and cause a cataract.
• Radiation cataract. Certain types of radiation can cause cataracts.
• Pediatric cataract.

What eye disease can cause blindness?

The four most common eye conditions leading to loss of vision or blindness are:

• Cataracts.
• Diabetes-related retinopathy.
• Glaucoma.
• Age-related macular degeneration.

Can leptospirosis cause blindness in horses?

Clinical signs include depression, fever, loss of appetite, and signs of uveitis — also called moon blindness — where inflammation within the eye causes tearing, swelling, discharge, and cloudiness. Chronic uveitis can lead to blindness. Pregnant mares can also abort.

Can EPM cause blindness in horses?

Most commonly, horses with EPM present with asymmetric hindlimb paresis (weakness) and muscle atrophy. Rarely, the first signs may be related to a cranial nerve deficit (blindness, facial nerve deficits) or a focal brain lesion (depression, seizures).

Does uveitis cause blindness in horses?

This layer contains most of the blood supply to the eye and includes three structures: the iris (the part of the eye that determines the colour of the eye), the ciliary body and the choroid. Uveitis is the leading cause of blindness in horses and a very common cause of chronic ocular pain in horses.

What causes eye infections in horses?

The infection can be caused by exposure to dust, pollen, or allergens. Insect bites, irritation from flies, and viral or bacterial infections may also cause conjunctivitis. Rinsing your horse’s eyes with saline solution can be helpful in relieving symptoms.

What causes cloudy eyes in horses?

Gray or cloudiness in the cornea is an indication of either fluid (edema) or scarring within the tissue of the cornea. Edema results from injury or inflammation and is commonly associated with corneal ulcers, wounds, and Equine Recurrent Uveitis (ERU or Moon Blindness).

What are the most common areas of disease in the horse?

With over 1.2 million pets insured and 42 years of experience helping to ensure the health of pets, we reveal the most common health problems affecting horses.
The Top 5 Most Common Health Problems in Horses

• Arthritis. Fact.
• Gastric Ulcers. Fact.
• Colic. Fact.
• Desmitis (Inflamed Ligaments) Fact.
• Laminitis. Fact.

What causes fast developing cataracts?

Trauma-related cataracts are typically the most fast-growing type of cataracts. Radiation: Radiation-related cataracts, sometimes listed under trauma-related cataracts, occur after the lens has been exposed to radiation. Exposure to high levels of radiation can result in clouded vision in as little as two years.

What increases risk of cataracts?

Aging. Diabetes (cataracts can form earlier if you have diabetes) Family history of cataracts at a young age. Years of excessive exposure to the sun and UV rays.

Can cataracts cause blindness?

Cataract is the leading cause of blindness, accounting for 50% of blindness worldwide. Although significant progress has been made toward identifying risk factors for cataract, there is no proven primary prevention or medical treatment. Surgical removal of cataract remains the only therapy.

What causes night blindness in horses?

The disease is the result of abnormal cell signaling from the rods, or low light detecting cells of the retina, to the next cell in the visual pathway, known as the ON bipolar cells. In affected horses, the rods do not properly transmit their signal to the ON bipolar cell, resulting in blindness at night.

What causes blindness in livestock?

Deficiency of vitamin A is a well-known nutritional cause of blindness in cattle at any age. It occurs in cattle when plasma and liver levels fall below 0.7 μmol/L (0.2 ppm) and 2 μg/g respectively, and is often due to suboptimal amounts of green forage intake for a prolonged time (2–4).