Equine Recurrent Uveitis: Watery Eyes Can Indicate a Serious Problem

While there are many reasons for a horse to have excessive tear production, it’s a classic sign of equine recurrent uveitis, also known as moon blindness.
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Unless your mare has had a bad breakup with the stallion next door, her watery eyes could indicate a serious problem. While there are many reasons for a horse to have excessive tear production, it’s a classic sign of equine recurrent uveitis, also known as moon blindness.

Although years ago it was thought that the disease came and went with the cycles of the moon, today we know that it has nothing to do with the lunar calendar. Unfortunately, "equine recurrent uveitis is the most common cause of vision loss in horses," said Amber Labelle, DVM, an ophthalmology resident at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana. Since the disease affects approximately one in 10 horses, it’s important that a complete ophthalmic examination be performed during pre-purchase exams to detect the disorder.

Uveitis simply means that there is inflammation within the uveal tract of the eye. This area includes three parts: the iris, the ciliary body (which is found around the iris), and the choroid (a layer of tissue that supplies blood to the eye located beneath the retina).

Although they might sound similar, uveitis is not really related to UV radiation. Experts do believe that sunburn-causing UV wavelengths from the sun might exacerbate uveitis, but it is not suspected to be the inciting cause. So those fancy sunglasses you bought for your Saddlebred probably won’t help with prevention

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Learn more about the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine at vetmed.illinois.edu.

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