Glaucoma is a catch-all term for a set of eye conditions that can damage the optic nerve. Often caused by abnormally high pressure in the eye due to fluid accumulation, glaucoma can affect both horses and humans. This condition can lead to the detachment of the Descemet membrane (DM), a layer of cells that line the interior of the cornea.
In a recent study, five horses from different states were referred to veterinary clinics for eye issues that didn’t respond to traditional medical treatment. Each horse had severe fluid buildup in the cornea, high pressure within the eyeball, and corneal ulceration.
Each horse had its affected eye removed and it was sent to the Comparative Ocular Pathology Laboratory of Wisconsin (COPLOW). Researchers at the lab determined that each horse had a Descemet membrane (DM) detachment and that each eye showed signs of chronic glaucoma.
DM detachment can be a complication in both people and horses who have had cataract surgery, but these are the first known cases of DM detachment in horses that have not had ocular surgery. Blunt trauma to the eye was reported as a possible cause of glaucoma development and DM detachment in each of these cases.
The researchers encourage veterinarians to consider glaucoma-caused DM detachment as a reason for severe corneal edema that doesn’t respond to typical medical intervention. They note that this condition reduces the likelihood of the horse keeping its eye.
Read more at EQUUS.
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