- Eyelid is Drooping or Eye is Closed
- Rubbing or Trying to Scratch Eye
- Eye looks Sunken
- Eye looks Shrunken or Small
- Eyes are Bothered by Flies
- Eye has Ulcer or Scratch on Surface
- Eye appears To Have Blood Inside Clear Front Chamber
- Eye has Swollen Pink Tissue around It
- Abnormal Looking Object, Growth or Material Inside Eyeball
YOU ARE OBSERVING
Eye looks Ruptured
Summary
If you can see it, you will likely see an eyeball that is smaller than the normal size, with or without an obvious tear in the clear surface. The iris may be pushed through this - a small, dark mass bulging from the surface of the eye. A clear liquid may be running down the face.
Eyeball rupture is rare and usually the result of a severe blow or direct trauma to the head. The most common cause is a when a horse falls to the ground and sustains an impact injury when the eye hits the ground directly. Chronic, long-standing eye infection of the cornea (corneal ulcer) can also ultimately result in perforation leakage of the inner liquid (aqueous humor), and collapse of the eyeball. A long standing ruptured eye becomes shrunken, raisin-like.
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Code Red
Call Your Vet Immediately, Even Outside Business Hours- Most eye problems are considered veterinary emergencies.
your role
What To Do
Involve your vet immediately with any eye injury because delay in diagnosis or treatment can have sight-threatening consequences.Skills you may need
Procedures that you may need to perform on your horse.
your vet's role
- How do you think this happened?
- Can you see damage to the globe or eyeball?
- Give me directions to your current location, so I can get to you as soon as possible.
- What exactly are you seeing that makes you think the eyeball (globe) is ruptured?
Diagnostics Your Vet May Perform
Figuring out the cause of the problem. These are tests or procedures used by your vet to determine what’s wrong.
Diagnoses Your Vet May Consider
The cause of the problem. These are conditions or ailments that are the cause of the observations you make.
Treatments Your Vet May Recommend
A way to resolve the condition or diagnosis. Resolving the underlying cause or treating the signs of disease (symptomatic treatment)
further reading & resources
Helpful Terms and Topics
Written, reviewed or shared by experts in equine health