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  Discussion on Four corneal ulcers same eye, in one year!
Author Message
Member:
zbgirl

Posted on Thursday, Apr 3, 2014 - 12:47 am:

My 19 year old TB's first ulcer was my fault. While affectionately petting him with my off side hand, I inadvertantly touched his off side eye. That was a year ago. It took a while to heal because 2 more new ulcers were created using the eye tube. (I didn't do those injuries) Finally after 6 weeks was healed using plasma applied onto the corneal surface and antibiotic cream. Ulcers 2 and 3 were small ones, same eye, and they healed in about 5 days. I don't know what he is catching his face or eye on, but I have caught him rubbing his ears and face against the stall walls. They are small ulcers, and erythomycin ointment was applied 2-3 times a days. My vet recommended that I buy the eyesaver mask. I got it in time for the 3rd and 4th ulcer event. It stops my horse from rubbing his eye, and now with this 4th and current ulcer, the eye seems to be healing much faster and looks much better on day3. I am still applying the erythomycin but my question is, is there some weakness on the corneal wall, possible due to age or old trauma? I am wanting to buy some eye health herbs for this horse. Having 4 ulcers in one year is crazy! Has anyone had success with improving their horse's eye health and integrity using supplement?
Member:
judyhens

Posted on Friday, Apr 4, 2014 - 1:13 pm:

We have a mare who was misdiagnosed years ago and almost lost an eye. It was fungal, but was diagnosed as ERU, and was treated with steroids. When the whole eye turned white about a week later they tested it and found a fungal infection even within the eye chambers. They treated aggressively and she recovered. She has been prone to eye infections since. All recover rapidly with antibiotics and antifungals. Finally, because of the recurrence, an equine ophthalmologist tested her for herpes in the eye. It was positive. We treated her for that and she hasn't had a recurrence, but it has only been a few months. We protect her with a fly mask any time there is wind....which lately is almost all the time. :-) Windy spring here in Texas! Good luck with your TB! Keep us posted.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Apr 5, 2014 - 9:21 am:

Hello ZBGirl,
The question cannot be answered as asked because we don't know the causes of the recurrent ulcers. Ulcers are a sign or symptom of a number of diseases. The next step is to try and get a diagnosis then reasons for recurrence and proper treatment and prevention can be instituted.

I am interested in what you are seeing that you are calling ulcers: how are you diagnosing them?
DrO
Member:
zbgirl

Posted on Saturday, Apr 5, 2014 - 12:17 pm:

All the eye events in the last year were attended to by my vet. He examined and stained for uptake and said the first episode was the worst, however didn't measure the mm or anything. The other 3 times, my vet said the scratches or ulcers were smaller, and that healing was slower because my horse would rub his affected eye on his foreleg.

My vet was thinking causes may be eye trauma by bumping/rubbing into things in his stall, or debris and wind creating a situation where he rubs and scratches his eye resulting in an ulcer.

I bought the eyesaver mask. It really helps because my horse cannot rub his eye on his leg.

I am starting to wonder if the epithelial layer of the cornea is thin or compromised somehow. Is that possible?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Apr 6, 2014 - 8:43 pm:

And when he stained there was clear uptake of fluorescein each time?

The idea of a continuously compromised epithelial layer as a primary event may be possible but I am unaware of such a condition in horses or any specie. Autoimmune disease, past injury, infections, disorders of tearing, glaucoma, and possibly a dozen more disorders can effect the health of the cornea's epithelial layer. If you feel your veterinarian's thought of recurring trauma may be missing something a referral to an equine ophthalmologist would be a good next move.
DrO
Member:
zbgirl

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 9, 2014 - 12:51 am:

Judy, how does a horse get herpes! in the eye. Did it take awhile to clear up?
Member:
zbgirl

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 9, 2014 - 12:54 am:

And, yes, Dr. O, there was clear indication each time of the green fluroescein.

What is your antibiotic ointment of choice? We used erythomycin.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Saturday, Apr 12, 2014 - 8:15 pm:

ZB, the antibiotic of choice will depend on several factors of which most important at the the time of exam would be the clinical presentation and prior exposure to antimicrobials. If I thought I was dealing with a susceptible gram positive organism unlikely to be resistant to a macrolide, erythromycin would be a good choice.
DrO
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