Common eye infections and injuries in horses include bacterial infections, contact with parasites, and physical wounds.
Untreated eye problems can become nasty very quickly. Minor problems can even result in blindness if left untreated. If the eye becomes badly infected, the structures of the eye can be eroded until the entire eye collapses.
Symptoms of Eye Infections in Horses:
Your horse’s eyes should be clear, bright, and the lids tight, with the inside of the lid pale pink and moist. Tearing should be minimal with perhaps only a droplet at the corner of the eye. Sometimes, if there is dust, dry air or wind, a horse’s eye might run a bit, just as yours would
Symptoms that require treatment include:
Cut or torn eyelids
Swollen eyelids
Obvious damage to the eye itself
White film either over the whole eye or in spots
Red or inflamed eye or of any surrounding tissue, including the white sclera and lids
Tears running down the horse’s face, which may indicate a torn or blocked tear duct
Copious discharge other than a thin tear-like stream
Tumors growing on or around the lid
In foals, turned under eyelids that cause the eyelashes to rub against the eye.