I'm curious on the eye sight of older horses....?

Question

My mare is approximately 26-27 yrs old....i've noticed that she has a cloudy look to her pupils, is this normal? And what does it mean?

Answer 1

Cateracts, or thickening of the cornea, would be common and expected for a horse of this age.  Geriactric horses have special needs and one can expect the typical problems of aging.  If she is having difficulty or you suspect injury, call your vet now.  Otherwise, I would discuss it at your next scheduled appt.

Answer 2

i would check with your vet. it probably means she's starting to lose her eye sight but she hasn't yet. you might be able to prevent it.

Answer 3

Usually when the eye looks cloudy, she is developing a cataract. You should call your vet. This can be very serious. If he/she catches it early, it can be postponed a little bit longer.

There are some quick test and things you can notice to help your vet determine the diagnostist.

1) walk up to your horse, from where they can see you (approching the shoulder is best), and see if she jumps back or spooks a little. Be sure she is in a postion she can see you.

2) While holding her halter, put you had above her head w/o saying anything, and notice her reaction. Acting spooky is a sing that she can't see what is going on or approching her anymore.

3) Take notice that she is not as active as before, like not walking as much in her stall, not going to far in her paddock

**This could be a sign see is losing her eye sight, and can not see the ground or her stall very cleary, and is scared to move.

If your mare is an Appaloosa, it is very common in their breed.

But you should definatley call the vet, and explain to him, that you notice the cloudyness in the eyes, spooks at little things, because maybe she really can't see them cleary, and is not as active, or willing to venture as far as she usually does.

I hope everthing works out ok. I have been in you place, and it is scary, but your mare should be ok.

Answer 4

It could be anything from "moonblindness", or recurrent uveitis to an injury, in any case, a call to the vet ASAP is in order.  Good luck with your mare.

Answer 5

Horses develop cataracts just as humans do.  A cataract causes the lens of the eye to become opaque, where it is normally transparent.  The lens is inside of the eye, but the pupil is actually just an opening at the center of the iris, so you can see it through the pupil.

The lens thickens and thins to bend light and focus it on the retina for clear vision.  Cataracts reduce flexibility of the lens so it is difficult to focus and vision is blurry.

EDIT...Just read Alicia Marie response...there is no medical treatment for cataracts, only surgical.  Do you think a 27 year old horse is a candidate for surgery, with the risk of endophthalmitis?  What is the method to "postpone" the cataract development, when the cloudiness is already apparent through the pupil?  Please respond if you read this...I'm curious. Are you a veterinarian? Three months ago you told quarter filly you were a vet making $200,000 a year.  Now your source box says you are in vet school.  You seem confused.

Another old-horse condition is called arcus senilis (senilis, as in senile).  This one forms cloudy looking gray bands around the cornea, which is a transparent outer wall at the front of the eyeball that covers the iris and pupil.  Instead of the whole pupil being covered, just the area around it  and the iris is involved.  It forms from cholesterol deposits and can impair vision as well, but not in the same way as cataracts.

So, it's normal...just realize the horse may not see as well as he/she used to.