Page 986 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

Prognosis

Superficial injuries that are correctly treated and managed usually heal within a few days.
VetBooks.ir The prognosis for deep bacterial and fungal infections of the cornea is guarded. Deep ulcers

take much longer to heal and may leave a scar. In some cases the infection perforates the
cornea resulting in collapse of the eye. In this situation the prognosis for the eye is hopeless
and it must be surgically removed (enucleated).

CONJUNCTIVITIS

Conjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is the moist, pink mucous

membrane that lines the eyelids and covers the third eyelid. It also attaches to the sclera
(white part) of the eye. The healthy conjunctiva is moist and salmon pink in appearance.

Conjunctivitis is the commonest disease of the horse’s eye.

Causes

There are numerous causes of conjunctivitis. They include:

• bacterial infections

• systemic viral disease, e.g. equine viral arteritis, equine herpesvirus, equine influenza
• physical irritants, e.g. wind, dust, flies, chemical irritants, bright sunlight

• allergy, e.g. to pollen

• trauma

• foreign bodies

• eyelid deformities or tumours
• parasites, e.g. Habronema, Onchocerca

• conjunctival tumours, e.g. squamous cell carcinoma.

Conjunctivitis can also occur secondary to other eye diseases, e.g. keratitis and uveitis.

Clinical signs

The condition may affect one or both eyes depending on the cause. The symptoms usually

include:
• pain