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To determine the prevalence of ocular disease in draft horses in the United States.Draft horses of various breeds and ages.Nondilated ophthalmic examination was performed using slit lamp biomicroscopy and indirect ophthalmoscopy. Intraocular pressures were measured when possible.One hundred sixty-five draft horses were examined. Age range: 10 days to 33 years (mean 10.8 years, median 10 years); 87 geldings (52.7%), 71 mares (43.0%), 7 stallions (4.2%); 64 Percherons (38.8%), 51 Belgians (30.9%), 29 Clydesdales (17.6%), 15 Shires (9%), and 6 other draft breed (3.6%). Intraocular pressure: mean 24.7 mmHg OD, range 13-37 mmHg; mean 25.0 mmHg OS, range 11-37 mmHg. Vision-threatening disease was present in 9 horses (5.5%): complete cataracts 1, post-traumatic optic nerve atrophy 1, uveitis and secondary glaucoma 1, retinal detachment 1, large chorioretinal scar 3, phthisis bulbi 2. Non-vision-threatening ocular disease was present in 56 horses (33.9%) involving one or more ocular structures: eyelid trauma/notch defect 14 (8.5%), SCC-type adnexal lesions 12 (7.3%), corneal scars 16 (9.7%), keratitis 6 (3.6%), corpora nigra cyst 15 (9.1%), incipient/punctate cataract 50 (30.3%), vitreous degeneration 10 (6.1%), asteroid hyalosis 1, "bullethole" chorioretinal scars 3, RPE coloboma 1. Linear keratopathy was present in 28 horses (17%) with 2/28 having concurrent vision threatening ocular disease.Ocular abnormalities, in particular minor cataracts, were relatively common in this population, but not typically vision-threatening. Additionally, this survey demonstrated a greater prevalence of linear keratopathy in draft horses compared with reports in other breeds; however, it does not appear to be associated with concurrent ocular disease.

A 4 yr old intact male rat terrier presented with severe bilateral nonresponsive panuveitis. Bilateral uveitis, blepharospasm, conjunctival hyperemia, diffuse corneal edema, peripheral bullous retinal detachment, and secondary ocular hypertension were noted. Ocular lesions progressed despite aggressive medical treatment and were followed by cutaneous depigmentation and crusting along the nasal planum. Intensive oral and topical anti-inflammatory and topical antiglaucoma medications were administered, but the ocular disease progressed. A bilateral enucleation was performed. Uveodermatologic syndrome was diagnosed from histopathologic examination of a skin biopsy as well as histopathology of both globes after bilateral enucleation. To maintain control of the dermatologic lesions, oral azathioprine was initiated, but it was not well tolerated by this patient. Immunosuppressive doses of oral cyclosporine and anti-inflammatory doses of oral prednisone were used to control the depigmentation and crusting skin lesions.

A 6-year-old castrated dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) presented with a non-healing, severely pruritic, ulcerative fibrotic plaque located at the medial canthus. Histological examination of surgical biopsies identified degenerating nematode larvae within eosinophilic granulomas. Treatment involved repeated debridement of the lesion, injectable ivermectin and anti-inflammatory therapies, and injectable and topical antibiotics. A specially constructed mask with goggles to prevent the camel from continuing to self-traumatize the eye and lesion was also placed. Full recovery occurred approximately 1 month after diagnosis. Because of the location of the lesion, time of year, the gross and microscopic characteristics of the lesion, the presence of a likely nematode larva and the response to treatment, a diagnosis of cutaneous habronemiasis was made. Resume Un dromadaire (Camelus dromedarius) sterilise de 6 ans presentait une plaque ne cicatrisant pas, severement prurigineuse, fibrotique, ulcerative localisee au canthus medial. L’examen histologique des biopsies a revele la presence de larves degenerees de nematode au sein de granulomes eosinophiliques. Le traitement consistait en des debridements repetes de la lesion, de l’ivermectine injectable, des anti-inflammatoires ainsi qu’une antibiotherapie topique et injectable. Un masque specialement fabriquea cet usage a l’aide de lunettes a ete pose sur l’animal pour eviter l’automutilation de l’œil et de la lesion. Une complete guerison a ete observee un mois apres le diagnostic. Vu la localisation, les caracteristiques macroscopiques et microscopiques de la lesion, la periode de l’annee, la presence de larves de nematodes et la reponse au traitement, un diagnostic d’habronemose cutanee a ete porte. Resumen Un dromedario castrado de seis anos de edad (Camelus dromedarius) se presento con una placa fibrotica, muy pruritica, ulcerada y que no cicatrizaba, localizada en el canto medial de un ojo. El examen histologico de la biopsia mostraba larvas de nematodos degeneradas dentro de granulomas eosinofilicos. El tratamiento incluyo extirpacion parcial de la lesion, ivermectina inyectaba, terapia antiinflamatoria, y antibioticos topicos e inyectados. Se aplico una mascara especial con gafas de proteccion para prevenir que el dromedario continuara traumatizando el ojo y la zona de la lesion. Se observo una recuperacion total aproximadamente un mes tras el diagnostico. Dada la localizacion de la lesion, la epoca del ano, las caracteristicas macroscopicas e histologicas, la presencia de probables larvas de nematodo y la respuesta al tratamiento se dio un diagnostico de habronemiasis cutanea. Zusammenfassung Ein sechs Jahre altes Dromedar (Camelus dromedarius) wurde mit einer schlecht-heilenden, stark juckenden, ulzerierten fibrotischen Plaque im Bereich des medialen Kanthus vorgestellt. Bei der histologischen Untersuchung der chirurgischen Biopsien wurden degenerierte Nematodenlarven inmitten eosinophiler Granulome identifiziert. Die Behandlung bestand aus wiederholtem Debridement der Veranderung, injizierbarem Ivermectin und einer entzundungshemmenden Therapie, sowie injizierbaren und topischen Antibiotika. Eine speziell konstruierte Maske mit einer Schutzbrille, um das Dromedar daran zu hindern, das Auge und die Lasion weiterhin selbst zu traumatisieren, wurde ebenfalls verwendet. Etwa einen Monat nach der Diagnose kam es zur vollstandigen Heilung. Aufgrund der Lokalisation der Veranderung, der Jahreszeit, der makroskopischen und mikroskopischen Charakteristika der Lasion, des Vorkommens einer vermeintlichen Nematodenlarve und des Behandlungserfolges wurde die Diagnose einer Habronemiasis gestellt.

Objective To evaluate the visual outcome of three techniques of corneal transplantation surgery in treating severe inflammatory keratopathies in the horse. Design Retrospective medical records study. Animals studied Medical records of 206 horses that received corneal transplantation surgery at the University of Florida Veterinary Medical Center from 1993 to 2007 were reviewed. Procedure Data collected from the medical records included signalment, types of ocular lesions, type of transplant surgery performed, length of follow-up, complications, and visual outcomes. Results Full thickness penetrating keratoplasty (PK) was performed in 86 horses for melting ulcers, iris prolapse/descemetoceles, and medically nonresponsive full thickness stromal abscesses (SA). Posterior lamellar keratoplasty (PLK) and deep lamellar endothelial keratoplasty (DLEK) are split thickness penetrating keratoplasties that were utilized for medically nonresponsive deep stromal abscesses (DSA) in 54 and 66 eyes, respectively. The most common postoperative surgical complication was graft rejection and varying degrees of graft opacification. Wound dehiscence and aqueous humor leakage was also a common postoperative problem. A positive visual outcome was achieved for PK, PLK, and DLEK in 77.9%, 98.1%, and 89.4%, respectively. Conclusions Corneal transplantation is a tectonically viable surgery in the horse with an overall success rate of 88.5% in maintaining vision when treating vascularized and infected corneal disease in the horse.

Objective To review the signalment, clinical characteristics, and outcome of horses with nonhealing corneal ulcers treated with diamond burr debridement (DBD); and to evaluate the role of ulcer duration, size and location, and bandage contact lens (BCL) placement on healing. Animals From January 2012–April 2013, 60 horses were diagnosed with ulcers classified as nonhealing based on the presence of raised epithelial margins and duration of at least 7 days. Procedure Retrospective record review. Results Average age of included horses was 14.68 years, SD 8.17 years. There were three times as many males (45) as females (15), ( = 15, P = 0.001). Forty-eight horses (80%) had nonhealing ulcers uncomplicated by associated corneal disease. In the remaining horses, associated corneal disease included esinophilic keratitis (10%), calcific band keratopathy (5%), endothelial decompensation (1.67%), habronemiasis(1.67%), and lid suture abrasion (1.67%). Average corneal ulcer duration prior to diamond burr debridement (DBD) was 29.0 days (n = 56). Ulcers occurred most commonly in the axial cornea (41%). Fifty-five of 60 horses (92%) healed with DBD. Healing time, defined as time to epithelialization following DBD, averaged 15.5 days, SD 9.32 days, and was not correlated with patient age or ulcer duration, location, or size prior to or following DBD. Healing time was significantly longer for eyes in which a BCL had been placed (n = 28, 19.0 days) than for eyes without a BCL (n = 32, 12.9 days), F(1,58) = 5.543, P = 0.02. DBD was considered a failure for five horses (8%). Conclusions DBD may be an effective treatment for nonhealing corneal ulcers in horses.

Objective To describe clinical and histologic findings in horses with iris abscesses. Design Retrospective medical records study. Animals studied Medical records of horses that had iris abscesses at the University of Florida Veterinary Medical Center, Peterson & Smith Equine Hospital, and Veterinary Eye Specialists of London, Ontario, from 2005 to 2008 were reviewed. Procedure Data collected from the medical records included signalment, clinical and histologic descriptions of ocular lesions, therapy, complications, and visual outcomes. Results The medical records of two Quarterhorses, one pony, one warmblood, one Westphalian, and one Arab horse with unilateral iris abscesses were identified. Mild-to-severe clinical signs of iridocyclitis were present in all six eyes with iris abscesses. The eyes of two horses with iris abscesses were also associated with deep stromal abscesses and responded to medical therapy alone in one case, and medical therapy and corneal transplantation in the other. Iris abscesses in two horses were also associated with intralenticular invasion due to a Cladosporium and a Fusarium-type fungus respectively, and resulted in enucleations. Two horses with iris abscesses and no apparent lens involvement resolved with medical therapy in one case and surgical removal of the iris abscess and medical therapy in the other. Conclusions This is the first clinical report of iris abscesses in the horse, and the first histologic report of fungal invasion of the horse lens.

This report documents congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB) in two non-Appaloosa horse breeds (Thoroughbred and Paso Fino). History of vision impairment since birth, normal ocular structures on ophthalmic examination, and electroretinographic findings were consistent with CSNB. In one horse (Thoroughbred), a 9-year follow-up was carried out. In the Paso Fino, severe vision impairment from birth to approximately 1 year of age in both dim and bright light situations led to humane euthanasia and histopathologic confirmation of the disorder.