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  Discussion on Surgical options for ERU and glaucoma--latest and greatest
Author Message
Member:
4merri

Posted on Friday, May 13, 2005 - 8:59 am:

Hi:
I have been battling this ERU with severe corneal ulcers resulting in very advanced secondary Glaucoma for almost a year now, with 4 different vets; two Opthalmologists. Originally there was a mis-diagnosis of Linear Kertopathy; but the initial flair ups were so bad that no ocular internal structures were able to be seen. My mare was in such excrutiating pain she was in a debilitated state for days, even under heavy pain medication. The flair ups were consistantly about every month and just about that long to get them under control. Result: I took her to MSU consulted with another opthalmologist who recommended enucleation. But the other thing that was highly and consistantly recommended, was: NO VACCINATIONS!! until the eye comes out. This was the recommendation by 4 different vets. Another recommendation: no stress, change in diet or heavy training, putting to much stress on the system/eye. Enucleation was the consensus, hands down, as prognosis was poor and she was already totally blind in the eye. She is currently taking Bute daily to help with the long term aggrevation of the eye pain. I have opted for the enucleation this week and will let you know how that goes. I think in the consideration for the horse you need to mull over the long term effects of flair-ups, infection and pain management with whatever drugs you are using to manage it. For me the clear cut answer was having a horse pain free. It breaks my heart, but it would break my heart more to see her suffer and possibly come down with some disease that I couldn't vaccinate her for. Just the thought that I will not have to live, literally from }day to day wondering if something is going to trigger these debilitating flair-ups will be a tremendous burden removed from both of us. She'll still be beautiful to me and SHE is not that vain. Cynthia
Member:
Redalert

Posted on Friday, May 13, 2005 - 9:56 am:

Cynthia,
Thank goodness you are doing the right thing for your horse... I(my horse and I)battled with a different kind of eye problem for quite awhile, when enucleation was available to me the whole time. He ended up with dehabilitating gastric ulcers from all the stress, pain, and medications. Once I FINALLY had the eye enucleated, he never Looked back(no pun intended).He does not miss the eye at all...is the same horse in every way, except that he has to now stay on ulcer meds! I WISH I had done this for him sooner! I don't know what you are considering as a part of your horse's surgery, but, the surgeon put a silicone ball under the lid in the empty socket, so it looks like he just has a closed eye(no hollow socket). It is not bad looking...just wanted to offer you my support !!! Whatever you decide, cudos to you for choosing a better life for your horse in spite of the "cosmetics" of it! She must be very special!
Nancy
Member:
Fpony

Posted on Saturday, May 14, 2005 - 7:00 am:

Hi Cynthia,
My pony also had his eye removed after a long summer of a painful eye that i couldn't get under control. He has the same dx as your horse. I think the ulcer were the most painful. He had this condition for 5 years and it had done very well. The choice is a hard one but I'm glad I stopped trying to fix the eye. He is now pain free. He still is cute as a button and seems to love life. He is getting use to total lose of sight in that eye. They told me he was blind before but he must have had some sort of slight movement or light in that eye as now he acts blind in it and never really did before. So your horse may have a slight adjustment,too. The silicpone ball worked well for us too.No complications.
Good luck.Let us know how the surgery goes and when it is scheduled. Kim and Foxy pony!
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