Do you think that medical research will ever find a cure for cataracts?

Question

HI there, so I have a 20 year old appaloosa and he has a cataract in his right eye causing partial blindness. A few months ago the vet came to give him a physical and told us that we could take him to a science research center about 2 hours away to see if they could treat it. This would cost us 4000 dollars, and there would be no garantee if of his vision would come back in the eye. For the time being he is perfectly fine, but my dream is to get him to have full vision like he once had.

I am wondering, do you think they will ever find a special surgery or cure for a cataract?

I know they can do it with dogs and people, and some other animals, why not horses?

Have you heard about any horses regaining vision?

thank you everyone!

Answer 1

If you are wealthy, I would take him..but otherwise no I would not take him. I doubt he minds being blind anymore, and it can cause unnecessary pain.

Answer 2

appalossas are known for eye problems. There is a 20 yr old appy at my barn that is completly blind. He is completly fine with it. If u want to spend 4k u can but there is no garrantee.

Answer 3

I wouldn't see why not because I know my grandma had surgery on her eyes for cataracts however I don't this that they can stop it from coming back. I think they can only remove it but it does take a long time for it to come back. Normally and being that he is that old you probably would do ok with that.

Answer 4

I am sure eventually they will.  My Grandma had her eyes done and now has 20/20 vision.  As far as if you should do it with your horse? I guess a consult with the center couldnt hurt, but when it comes down to it, you need to weigh the pros and cons of what could go wrong/right with your horse having the procedure done.

Answer 5

Apparently, right now equine cataracts can be removed, but lens implants aren't perfected yet.  So, the horse has vision but it is very farsighted since there is no lens to focus light rays on distinct areas of the retina.

From what I read, they are working on it and are going to be able to do lens implants soon.  So, if the operation for your horse is just a lens removal, he will have the cloudy lens out of the way, but only see well out of the eye at a distance.  If they propose to do an implant, it is still a new more experimantal procedure and might be risky.

EDIT...I have never heard of the other eye developing sympathetic ophthalmia (opposite eye inflammation) associated with a cataract, except for following cataract surgery.  If the surgery produces inflammation in the eye, it sometimes will lead to inflammation in the other eye.  I would clarify this with your vet...leaving the existing cataract alone should not cause a problem in the other eye, or not that I know of.