From lacerations to cancer, issues commonly affecting the equine eyelid were among the topics tackled by Brian Gilger, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVO, chief of the Ophthalmology Service at North Carolina State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, during the first AAEP Focus on Ophthalmology meeting, held in Raleigh, N.C., earlier this month.

With the possible exception of entropion (inward folding of the eyelids) in neonatal foals, congenital defects–those the animal is born with–of the eyelid are considered rare when compared to acquired defects such as lacerations.

As eyelid lacerations are a common issue nearly every equine practitioner deals with on a relatively frequent basis, Gilger discussed techniques for successful surgical repair in detail. He also covered local and systemic anesthetic techniques for successful surgical repair in detail during both lecture and hands-on labs.

Masses and tumors, such as squamous cell carcinoma, commonly affect the eyelids and ocular region of the horse. Gilger emphasized the importance of your veterinarian’s diagnostic evaluation of the tumor prior to considering proper treatment options