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Moon Blindness in Horses
(Equine Recurrent Uveitis)
How to recognize and treat it
"Moon blindness" (Equine Recurrent Uveitis) is a a painful and progressive disease of the eye. The photo above shows a horse's left eye afflicted with the disease.
As many veterinarians know, eye ailments can have a nasty way of getting out of control quickly. Dr. Amber Labelle, DVM told the audience at Equine Affair in Champaign, IL that a call concerning an eye injury or ailment was sure to get her immediate attention. She talked about a most insidious ailment most commonly known as “moon blindness” (equine recurring uveitis).
Moon Blindness is a common eye diseases in horses, and the leading cause of equine blindness. One or both of the horse's eyes will show tearing, redness, cloudiness, swelling, and light sensitivity. It is called "moon blindness" because, like the moon, it manifests in phases--bouts of inflammation followed by periods of inactivity.
Veterinarians now understand that this disease is an autoimmune disease. The horse’s own immune system begins to attack the eye as though it were something foreign. Unchecked, it can cause retinal detachment, cataracts, and blindness. For this reason, checking your horse's eyes is of crucial importance to providing quality horse care.
What Causes Moon Blindness?
The most common causes is infection with Leptospira, a spiral-shaped bacteria that can be found in areas with stagnant water. It can also be caused other bacterial infections, such as Lyme disease, and by virus infections such as flu and herpesvirus (both of which can be prevented through vaccination). In response to the infection, the horse's immune system goes into overdrive.
The initial episode of moon blindness typically occurs in horses four to eight years old.
Which Horses are at Risk
According to newly published research, Appaloosa horses are 8 times more likely to develop moon blindness about 4 times more likely to become blind from it. Leopard Appaloosas are particularly more at risk. You can read the research here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/age.12883
Other breeds carry a slightly elevated risk of developing moon blindness, including American Quarter Horses, Paints, and Warmbloods.
Signs and symptoms
The telltale signs of uveitis are a constricted pupil with a “dirty water” appearance, squinting, tearing, and cloudiness.
Treatment
The standard treatment for moon blindness included steroids to reduce inflammation and pain killers to make the horse feel more comfortable. Veterinary hospitals are now also successfully treating horses with this ailment using a technique developed at the University of North Carolina called suprachoroidal cyclosporine implants. These small implants are inserted into the membranes of the eye and do their work by suppressing the eye’s immune system. Although their inventors assumed they would last about 3 years, clinical experience indicates a 10 year lifetime.
Happy riding!
As long as you’re here, check these out!
Equestrian Products That Make Your Riding and Horse Care Easier and Better!
What to Feed A Horse
Six Vital Horse Facts That Every Horse Owner Absolutely Must Know
How to Tell If Your Horse Is Lame
Common Horse Diseases: How To Recognize and Treat Them
Copyright Denise Cummins, PhD | March 2016; updated May 30, 2024
The Thinking Equestrian
As many veterinarians know, eye ailments can have a nasty way of getting out of control quickly. Dr. Amber Labelle, DVM told the audience at Equine Affair in Champaign, IL that a call concerning an eye injury or ailment was sure to get her immediate attention. She talked about a most insidious ailment most commonly known as “moon blindness” (equine recurring uveitis).
Moon Blindness is a common eye diseases in horses, and the leading cause of equine blindness. One or both of the horse's eyes will show tearing, redness, cloudiness, swelling, and light sensitivity. It is called "moon blindness" because, like the moon, it manifests in phases--bouts of inflammation followed by periods of inactivity.
Veterinarians now understand that this disease is an autoimmune disease. The horse’s own immune system begins to attack the eye as though it were something foreign. Unchecked, it can cause retinal detachment, cataracts, and blindness. For this reason, checking your horse's eyes is of crucial importance to providing quality horse care.
What Causes Moon Blindness?
The most common causes is infection with Leptospira, a spiral-shaped bacteria that can be found in areas with stagnant water. It can also be caused other bacterial infections, such as Lyme disease, and by virus infections such as flu and herpesvirus (both of which can be prevented through vaccination). In response to the infection, the horse's immune system goes into overdrive.
The initial episode of moon blindness typically occurs in horses four to eight years old.
Which Horses are at Risk
According to newly published research, Appaloosa horses are 8 times more likely to develop moon blindness about 4 times more likely to become blind from it. Leopard Appaloosas are particularly more at risk. You can read the research here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/age.12883
Other breeds carry a slightly elevated risk of developing moon blindness, including American Quarter Horses, Paints, and Warmbloods.
Signs and symptoms
The telltale signs of uveitis are a constricted pupil with a “dirty water” appearance, squinting, tearing, and cloudiness.
Treatment
The standard treatment for moon blindness included steroids to reduce inflammation and pain killers to make the horse feel more comfortable. Veterinary hospitals are now also successfully treating horses with this ailment using a technique developed at the University of North Carolina called suprachoroidal cyclosporine implants. These small implants are inserted into the membranes of the eye and do their work by suppressing the eye’s immune system. Although their inventors assumed they would last about 3 years, clinical experience indicates a 10 year lifetime.
Happy riding!
As long as you’re here, check these out!
Equestrian Products That Make Your Riding and Horse Care Easier and Better!
What to Feed A Horse
Six Vital Horse Facts That Every Horse Owner Absolutely Must Know
How to Tell If Your Horse Is Lame
Common Horse Diseases: How To Recognize and Treat Them
Copyright Denise Cummins, PhD | March 2016; updated May 30, 2024
The Thinking Equestrian
Opening Photo Credit: http://www.vetbook.org/wiki/horse/index.php?title=Recurrent_uveitis