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  Discussion on What questions to ask re:cataracts
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Posted on Thursday, Feb 7, 2002 - 6:34 pm:

just brought my young horse home from a specialist... this gelding had a growth on his right eye that i did not want to mess around with.... as he has appy blood and sensitive eyes.. ..long story longer.

the growth, we are having surgery on next week to remove it.. the vet, was not sure what it is, but does need to be removed.. this growth is on the lower outside corner of the 3rd eye lid..

but what he found on the 'good' eye was a "pen point" cataract.. he showed it to me.. a small white spot on the inside lower corner of his eye.. it is not obstructing his vision..

i have read all your past postings and your article on them.. .. and am finding that some cataracts are really not, and that some are slow growing etc...

so to be more informed myself, what questions do i ask him about the cataract eye...

the other eye is a wait and see after the biopsy...

his surgery is schedule for 2-14-02

thank you... ann

Posted on Friday, Feb 8, 2002 - 7:22 am:

Hello Ann,
In the article under the heading diagnosis and prognosis we discuss several characteristics that when put together yield a probable prognosis. You want him to define those characteristics.
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Feb 20, 2002 - 5:24 pm:

ok, i got the info on the cataract in his 'good' eye...thank you..

had eye surgery last week and the growth removed, the surgery took longer then expected 1 hour 15 mins. as the growth was much fatter and longer then expected.. luckily the surgeon did not have to break any bone to get it all.. the growth was wrapping around the eyeball...

pathology report is in... it is not cancer although he does have 'precancer' cells on the 3rd eyelid.... the growth was/is an over active lymph node..

i think i read all you wrote about glucocorticoid use, and am fearful of the founder issue... even though you state that it is not an ''established fact...'' and also the use intraocular steroids being more of a threat...

my concern is that if anything can happen to a horse it does with this one... mountain lion attack, sand colic, pneumonia, internal pigeon fever.... shit just happens to this not yet 3 year old...

so i have opted not to be aggressive with the glucocorticoids treatment... but the surgeon wants me to keep putting the steroid cream in his eye 3 times a day for two weeks.... i am concern about this too...

am i being overly protective/concern about the treatments?? if it was a life threatening condition i would be doing this in a heart beat, but i think he/surgeon is just being aggressive and complete in his after care...

don't know if you can say anything to quiet my fears... but please try...

Posted on Thursday, Feb 21, 2002 - 7:26 am:

Absolutely I can help, how about this: your horse will not get founder by using corticosteroid creams in his eye. On the other hand I cannot think of a better treatment for an overactive lymph node than corticosteroids. How about that for reassurance?
DrO
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