Andras M. Komaromy, Dr.med, vet, PhD, DACVO

Corneal ulcers are injuries or scratches to the clear windshield of the eye.  They represent the most common eye disease in horses.  Whenever a horse’s eye appears painful, a corneal ulcer could be a problem.  Signs of eye pain are squinting, excessive tearing, and rubbing of the eye.  The affected eyes may also appear swollen and red with a cloudy cornea.

A veterinarian should examine any painful eye that does not improve within a few hours.  As part of the eye examination the veterinarian will apply a fluorescein dye to the cornea, which will stain an ulcer green.

Most corneal ulcers are superficial and will heal within a few days.  The use of antibiotic drops or ointment 3-4 times daily is recommended to prevent an infection.  In addition, depending on the severity of the inflammation, the veterinarian will also recommend the use of atropine drops or ointment to relax the spastic muscles inside the eye and either flunixine (Banamine®) or phenylbutazone (“Bute”) to address some of the pain and swelling.

If an ulcer does not improve within one week or if the ulcer appears complicated at the first examination, an infection may be present and more aggressive treatment will be required.  In these cases samples may have to be taken for analysis in a laboratory.

Many horses resist the frequent administration of eye medications.  In these cases a tubing system can be installed to facilitate the treatment.  Complicated corneal ulcers may take several weeks to heal and some of them may require surgery.

Dr. András M. Komáromy is a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist and an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Pennsylvania.  He serves as a consultant at MAEMC and sees appointments on two Saturdays per month.