Glaucoma

Glaucoma in Horses

  by Robert N. Oglesby DVM

Introduction

Introduction » Physiology » Causes » Symptoms » Diagnosis » Treatment / Prognosis » More Info & Discussions

Glaucoma is an increase in intraocular (fluid) pressure (IOP) and is caused by several different diseases of the eye. Because of the anatomy of the horse's optic nerve it is less sensitive than other species to increased pressure but over time high pressure results in blindness. Increasingly, glaucoma is being recognized in horses though still uncommon. As tonometers become more widely used in equine practices we should expect to recognize the condition in more horses. This article discusses the causes, clinical signs, diagnosis, and treatment of glaucoma in horses.

Normal Physiology

Introduction » Physiology » Causes » Symptoms » Diagnosis » Treatment / Prognosis » More Info & Discussions

Intraocular pressure (IOP) results from the rate of formation of the intraocular fluid by the ciliary body (iris) minus the rate of outflow at the corner formed where the iris joins the cornea. Normal IOP in the horse using a pen tonometer is between 7 and 37 mmHg with an average of 24 +/- 7 mmHg. Getting an accurate picture of the IOP in a horse can be a little tough however, see diagnosis for more.

Causes of Glaucoma

Introduction » Physiology » Causes » Symptoms » Diagnosis » Treatment / Prognosis » More Info & Discussions

                       
You have just read the beginning of this article. To access the unabridged article become a Member of Horseadvice.com! Your membership gets you instant access to this and over 600 articles on our site. Other benefits of your membership include participation in our discussion boards and access to our one button PubMed search tool for each topic.

Horseadvice can teach you to be a more knowledgeable horse owner which leads to a healthier horse and save you money. Really, we guarantee it. Come Join Us!
Viewing 2 topics - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)
Viewing 2 topics - 1 through 2 (of 2 total)
  • You must be logged in to create new topics.