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Equine Cataracts
Cataracts are described as cloudy eyes or eyes that have a white
film over the lens or a thick opacity of the lens.
Cataracts can impair vision as well as blind a horse depending on
the severity and it can occur in one or both eyes.
The
cause can be a variety of factors including genetic inheritance
however this is not often the most common cause.
Cataracts are generally caused by eye injuries and or eye diseases
such as Uveitis and not limited to any particular age group however
it is known to most commonly occur with either young foals or much
older horses, older horses being the more common of the two age
groups.
Cataracts can be surgically removed however in older horses the
chances of success are considerably low at a 50% and even after a
surgical removal there is a high degree of complications that can
arise such as ongoing inflammation, ulcerations and cloudiness which
could lead to shrinking of the eye and even blindness.
Foals
born with or developing cataracts under six months old are
considered to have this affliction as a congenital disease. Most
veterinarians recommend surgical removal of the lens if the foal is
healthy as the foals can usually tolerate aggressive treatments.
Of
course any horse that has had a cataract removal is no longer
considered a "sound" horse even if the horse can still
function and get about in a normal fashion. A horse that
has not had surgical removal of the lens can still also be
functional with the aid of alternative therapy.
The
Original Multi-Purpose Guardian Mask can not only help slow
down the process, but the mask can also help prevent cataracts as
the disease is known to be linked to Uveitis and as we have
discovered, the best known treatment for uveitis is in fact the
Guardian Mask with 95% sunshades for ultimate protection against the
harmful UV rays of the sun.
The most
common breeds of horses to have congenital cataracts are Appaloosa's
and Arabians. All horses however, are susceptible to
developing cataracts at any stage of life. Cataracts can also
be a result of eye injuries. It is best to try and consider
prevention rather than waiting until something "crops up" or waiting
until your horses eyes are in poor to bad condition.
It is
always recommended to have a complete ophthalmic examination as well
as a general health examination to determine the condition of a
horse with any type of eye conditions, as some diseases tend to also
effect other regions of the horses anatomy. Always seek the
advice of your veterinarian and if your vet has not heard of the
Guardian Mask products, please feel free to recommend your vet to
this web site.
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