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How Best To Treat Cataracts In Horses

A cataract in a horse is a serious condition of the lens of the eye, where an opacity or a cloudy patch can affect one or both eyes, reducing the quantity of light rays that reach onto the back of the eye.This condition can be present in foals, in which case they are known as congenital cataracts – this will be checked for during a routine post foaling exam – or they can develop secondary to trauma or other ocular conditions. One of these conditions includes equine recurrent uveitis, where repeated inflammation inside the eye can lead to cataracts as well as other clinical ocular findings. In some breeds the condition can also be heritable, for example in Morgan horses.Diagnosis is by ocular examination looking through the eye with an ophthalmoscope from a distance, as well as from up close. The use of tropicamide can also help to dilate or widen the pupil to get better visualisation of more peripheral lesions and, occasionally, they can also be detected on an ultrasound examination of the eye if the cataract's is particularly large or dense.Cataracts can vary in their position and appearance within the lens. They can be present in the front (anterior) or back (posterior) of the lens, in the centre or the periphery or it can affect the entirety of the lens (generalised). The condition may be described by their exact location within the lens – polar, subcapsular, lamellar, perinuclear, nuclear, equatorial or cortical – or their state of progression, for example incipient, immature, mature or hypermature and if they are in the centre they are most likely to be within the visual axis and if to the side/periphery then less likely to be within the visual axis. Cataracts can be well circumscribed in which case they often look like a mark in an otherwise clear lens or it can affect a larger area giving a blurry appearance and the size and location will determine the likelihood of how the cataracts could be potentially affecting the horse's functional vision.If a cataract has developed gradually over time then the owner may not have noticed any clinical signs, however, if clinical signs are present they could include becoming more spooky on one side, turning the head when ridden or altered head carriage, stumbling, walking into objects, increased facial injuries or noticing a cloudy appearance to the eye.  They are also one of the conditions that are checked for during a pre-purchase exam. The majority do not progress, however, some can be difficult to predict and often the only way is to monitor and re-check the cataracts after a 6-12 month period. It should also be noted that the presence of a cataract may affect future sales should the purchaser decide to sell the horse on further down the line.Treatment of the disease may or may not be required depending on the size, appearance and location and if there is any underlying or concurrent condition and if an underlying condition such as uveitis is present, then getting this condition under control would be required. If the cataracts is not within the visual axis and is otherwise small and well circumscribed then no treatment would likely be necessary. If the cataracts is large or generalised and affecting the vision with no concurrent disease then it may be a candidate for surgery and lens replacement, known as phacoemulsifcation, which is performed under general anaesthesia by veterinary and ophthalmology specialists. It involves making an incision through the cornea and lens capsule before a specialised instrument removes the lens contents and then replacing with an artificial lens.

Treatment Options For Uveitis

When you have uveitis, your vision could be in danger if you don't get it treated. This type of inflammation can damage one or both of your eyes. And it can cause blindness. But your eye doctor has several ways to keep your sight healthy.

Dr. Purnima S. Patel

We have a lot of different treatment options, especially in the last several years, that have been a real breakthrough in the treatment of uveitis patients.

Dr. Neha Pathak

Your doctor may prescribe steroids to start. These meds are a short-term way to control inflammation. But steroids can bring on side effects after a while, so you may need a different treatment if your uveitis keeps coming back.

Drugs that turn down your immune system could help if your doctor says your body's defenses are creating inflammation. A less common treatment is surgery to implant a tiny device in your eye. It slowly releases steroids over two to three years. In some cases, a bacterial or viral infection can cause uveitis. If that's the case for you, your doctor can prescribe antibiotics or antiviral meds to treat it, possibly along with steroids.

These aren't the only treatments for uveitis. Work with your eye doctor to find the right options for you.

Dr. Purnima S. Patel

We're happy with the new medications that have already come out, but we're looking forward to seeing what is in the future. ","publisher":"WebMD Video"} ]]>

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Dr. Neha Pathak

When you have uveitis, your vision could be in danger if you don't get it treated. This type of inflammation can damage one or both of your eyes. And it can cause blindness. But your eye doctor has several ways to keep your sight healthy.

Dr. Purnima S. Patel

We have a lot of different treatment options, especially in the last several years, that have been a real breakthrough in the treatment of uveitis patients.

Dr. Neha Pathak

Your doctor may prescribe steroids to start. These meds are a short-term way to control inflammation. But steroids can bring on side effects after a while, so you may need a different treatment if your uveitis keeps coming back.

Drugs that turn down your immune system could help if your doctor says your body's defenses are creating inflammation. A less common treatment is surgery to implant a tiny device in your eye. It slowly releases steroids over two to three years. In some cases, a bacterial or viral infection can cause uveitis. If that's the case for you, your doctor can prescribe antibiotics or antiviral meds to treat it, possibly along with steroids.

These aren't the only treatments for uveitis. Work with your eye doctor to find the right options for you.

Dr. Purnima S. Patel

We're happy with the new medications that have already come out, but we're looking forward to seeing what is in the future.

Equine Treatment Site In Rostraver Draws Horses From Up And Down The East Coast

While injuries suffered by horses on the track have dominated horse racing news this year, they can happen anywhere.

When startled, a horse can make sudden movements and try to run off, resulting in possible pulled muscles, torn tendons, skin damage or eye injury.

There are a variety of treatment options for horses, ranging from rest to different types of therapy.

Rehabilitation centers such as the Amulet Equine Rehabilitation and Conditioning Center in Rostraver specialize in horse injury treatment and use a medley of therapy types. Since opening in 2019, the center has received patients from across Pennsylvania, as well as Ohio, New York, New Jersey and Florida.

A popular method to treat a more serious injury is cryotherapy, which uses cold temperatures to address skin conditions or muscle and ligament pain. Amulet uses an ECB Leg Spa, a cold salt hydrotherapy unit to treat lower leg injuries. Horses stand in a tub as a mixture of cold water and concentrated salt are pumped from jets onto their legs.

"You name (the injury), we've worked with it," said Janet Collins, owner and managing partner of Amulet Equine.

Amulet Equine is well known in the racing community for its aquatherapy, in which the injured animal is put in a tub of water for low-impact cardio exercise. The facility is the only equine rehab center in the area with an Aqua Pacer underwater treadmill, Collins said.

"The horses are working a little harder because they're pushing through water to keep up with the speed, but the impact is cushioned, so we're not reinjuring or hurting them," Collins said.

Some trainers put horses on the AquaPacer to correct their gait or improve their conditioning.

The facility also offers many different rehabilitation practices such as a salt therapy chamber to improve breathing, a solarium to warm a horse's muscles and increase blood flow, and vibration therapy to enhance joint health and bone density. Co-owner Tom Svrcek and facility veterinarian Keith Brown research the newest developments in equine medicine and have traveled throughout the country to attend demonstrations and lectures about new technology.

The center mostly works with standardbred or harness racing horses. According to Collins, the most common horse injury the staff encounters is a torn ligament, a leg injury that usually requires cryotherapy and rest.

"Horses are our livelihood and our love," said Kim Hankins, executive director of the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association. "I don't know a single owner or trainer that does not love their horses."

Haley Daugherty is a TribLive reporter covering local politics, feature stories and Allegheny County news. A native of Pittsburgh, she lived in Alabama for six years. She joined the Trib in 2022 after graduating from Chatham University. She can be reached at hdaugherty@triblive.Com.

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