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  Discussion on Blue areas in iris
Author Message
Member:
heidim

Posted on Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 - 1:06 pm:

I'm looking to trade a gelding for a black mare with a narrow blaze. The only thing that makes me wonder is that she has three very small areas of blue (learning toward blue-gray) mixed in with the brown in her left iris. If combined, these blue areas probably comprise 15-20% of the iris. These blue areas are not the same as the bright blue coloring I've seen in paint horses or horses with bald faces or wide blazes. Neither do these blue areas seem attached to the cornea--it's specifically mixed in with the deeper-down brown. There is no irritation or redness, and the horse sees fine and is not sensitive to light. The other eye is evenly brown with no blue areas. I've read the articles on eye disease, and nothing really comes close to describing this--unless this is something in the really early stages. The article mentioned scarring. Would this show up as blue areas like this? They appear to be suspended within and limited to the iris, asymmetrical in shape, and none cover or cross the pupil.
Member:
heidim

Posted on Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 - 1:14 pm:

One more thing to mention: I realize only an examination by a vet can tell for sure what is going on with the eye. However, if what I describe is clearly the onset of something serious, I would rather avoid the call all together. If it's possible that this is something cosmetic only, it would be worth calling the vet out to make sure that is all it is.
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 - 1:48 pm:

Heidi,

This may just be a normal coloration but do check this out carefully.

My daughter bought a horse that had blue areas but on the cornea, which may be different than when this appears on the iris, though I imagine inflammation or scaring there could look the same and I have heard that similar conditions can be on the iris.

When my daughter asked the Veterinarian doing the pre-purchase exam about the eye, he said it was nothing to worry about and just "old scarring."

Unfortunately, this was superficial keratitis, which over a long term resulted in eye ointments costing at least $80 per month (much more some months) plus visits to the Veterinary Hospital and special treatments.

The horse's eye is in stable condition now but there has been considerable expense to get him to his current stage, which may or may not remain in a state of remission as this is thought to be an autoimmune problem.

If there is any doubt, I would have a veterinary eye specialist examine the eye.

Perhaps the horse you are looking at has no problem, but if something looks abnormal, do proceed with caution.
Member:
ajudson1

Posted on Thursday, Aug 27, 2009 - 1:55 pm:

I had a horse years ago who punctured his eye. It wasn't deep enough that he lost his eye, although from the swelling and all, I thought he would. It healed up fine, but I could see small speck which I think was the coloring you describe. As far as I know (he's been sold twice since that I know of, and I talk to the person I sold him to every year at our horse expo) nothing serious ever went on to develop and he never showed any signs of it bothering him; like spookiness, or irritation.

But that is just my one experience; I'd have a vet check it. I don't know if there is any way of telling if it is just cosmetic without an examination. But of course DrO would be the expert on it.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Aug 30, 2009 - 2:53 pm:

Hello Heidi,
From your description I cannot judge whether this is natural coloring or the result of a pathological process. Chronic inflammation can induce depigmentation but I would have expected this degree of change to accompanied with other signs of chronic inflammatory change. Best to have this checked before purchase.
DrO
Member:
heidim

Posted on Tuesday, Sep 1, 2009 - 12:43 am:

Thanks for your feedback. I will work with my vet on this one.
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