Injuries to the eye are one of the most common things we treat as equine veterinarians. I always tell
clients to treat eye conditions as emergencies and have them examined as soon as possible, because
although eyes having amazing healing ability, they can also be permanently damaged in a very short
period of time. Living outdoors, horses are exposed to all sorts of foreign bodies that can damage the
eyes. Something as small as dust or sleet can cause irritation, as can pieces of hay, horses rubbing their
faces on their legs, and sneaky things like the upturned edges of the handles on a water bucket. Other
eye conditions can be brought on by viral or bacterial infections, auto-immune disorders, or for no
obvious reason at all (we call this "iatrogenic"). In the absence of a veterinary exam, it is best to apply
no medication to the eye, unless your veterinarian advises otherwise. Using the wrong medication (for
example steroid ointment on an eye with a corneal ulcer) can lead to severe consequences such as
permanent blindness.
