Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) – also known as moon blindness, recurrent iridocyclitis, or periodic ophthalmia – is an acute, nongranulomatous inflammation of the uveal tract of the eye, occurring commonly in horses of all breeds, worldwide.

What would cause sudden blindness in a horse?

SUDDEN BLINDNESS Acute blindness may be associated with head or ocular trauma, ERU, glaucoma, cataracts, intraocular hemorrhage, exudative optic neuritis, retinal detachment or CNS disease. Acutely blind horses are extremely agitated, anxious and dangerous.

How can you tell if a horse is blind?

Signs of falling vision in horses can be, (and not limited to), bumping into walls or fences, signs of not wanting to move forward, or anxious or skittish behavior. These signs can be further noticed in lower-light areas or when there is less daylight.

How do you treat moon blindness in horses?

Treatment for Moon Blindness Treatment will likely include steroids, and drugs that will help the horse’s pupil dilate. You will want to protect your horse from bright light with either a mask or by keeping it indoors. Each time the condition reoccurs, you will need to resume treatment.

Is moon blindness permanent?

Causes of Uveitis But in the chronic, repeating form known as equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) or moon blindness, the disease can lead to permanent damage and eventually blindness—and it’s this manifestation that horse owners particularly worry about.

How common is moon blindness in horses?

What is equine recurrent uveitis? Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU), also known as moon blindness, is the most common cause of blindness in horses worldwide. It affects 2-25% of horses globally, with 56% of affected horses eventually becoming blind.

Is moon blindness curable?

“But, unfortunately, because there is no cure, over the long-term, most of them are going to go blind. The prognosis is also worse if the ERU is leptospirosis-associated.

How do I know if my horse has moon blindness?

Symptoms of moon blindness include inflammation and redness of the eye area, murkiness or white discoloration of the eye, tearing, squinting, and profuse but clear tearing. The horse will be reluctant to be in bright sunlight. Although it may not be evident, the horse will be feeling pain from the symptoms.

Can you still ride a blind horse?

If you rode your horse before it went blind, you may well be able to keep on riding. You’ll first have to assess its confidence and level of trust, and then go from there. Even if your horse came to you after it went blind, you may be able to ride it.

Is moon blindness in horses hereditary?

Takeaways. Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU or moon blindness) is the most common cause of vision loss in horses. ERU is likely a complex autoimmune disease that is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.

How to handle moon blindness in horses?

Use a fly masks during an attack. Fly masks can help keep symptoms from getting worse during symptom attacks.

What causes sudden blindness in horses?

Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) is a common cause of blindness in horses. It is a group of immune-mediated diseases of multiple origins cause inflammation of the iris, ciliary body, choroid, and retina (Figure 15).

What are symptoms of blind horses?

How can you tell if a horse is going blind? Swollen eyelids. Sensitivity to light. A cloudy cornea. Colour changes in the iris. A constricted pupil. Material within the front chamber of the eye such as blood, fibrin or pus. Reddening around the eye. A yellow-green discolouration deep within the eye.

Is moon blindness contagious?

Moon blindness is still being researched as to the specific cause of the disorder. It is known that this disease is not contagious and cannot be passed from horse to horse. Causes of moon blindness may be: Possible exposure to Leptospira bacteria.