What Is Moon Blindness In Horses
Equine recurrent uveitis is characterized by inflammation occurring inside the eye first impacting the uveal tract termed uveitis.
What is moon blindness in horses. Moon blindness with its aggressive progressive nature is a danger to almost 25 of horses in the us. According to equine ophthalmologist dennis brooks dvm ph d of the university of florida in gainesville moon blindness has been plaguing horses for millennia. Horses with moon blindness tend to have a very dark iris but without any damage or scarring within it.
X research source there is no single cure for moon blindness but with careful monitoring and vet treatment it can be managed. The causative factor is not known but several pathogeneses have been suggested. There are medical historians who think that moon blindness is the oldest recorded disease older even than recorded human disease said brooks.
People believed that the cycles of the moon caused it. Moon blindness clinically known as equine recurrent uveitis eru is a serious condition and the leading 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.
A very typical sign of this condition that the veterinarian will be looking for is the darkening of your horse rsquo s iris. Moon blindness is very recurrent and this is what gives the veterinarian a major clue in the diagnosis. Moon blindness is regarded as recurrent because it appears to clear up and then spontaneously reoccurs.
This inflammation is associated with pain and can lead to glaucoma cataracts and other forms of eye. If there is a parasite connection the moon blindness may be triggered by worming medication. Equine recurrent uveitis eru also known as moon blindness recurrent iridocyclitis or periodic ophthalmia is an acute nongranulomatous inflammation of the uveal tract of the eye occurring commonly in horses of all breeds worldwide.
Vets and veterinary ophthalmologists refer to it as equine recurrent uveitis eru. This is one reason that it is hard to diagnose quickly. Moon blindness in horses is a complicated condition that can have several causes.
It is one of the most common diseases of the equine eye with an estimated prevalence of 2 25 in the united states. Equine recurrent uveitis or better known as moon blindness is a chronic painful eye disease and it s the most common cause of blindness in horses with an estimated prevalence of 2 25 in the united states. Moon blindness is a chronic painful eye disease and it s the most common cause of blindness in horses.
The term moon blindness in horses came about in the 1600s. Equine flu tooth and hoof abscesses may also trigger moon blindness. Many times a horse will have uveitis a common condition of the eye.
