Eyes, catarachts etc.

[Christmas_Kate]

Hi, I'm hoping someone may be able to shed some light on something for me.

We purchased a new pony 2/3 weeks ago. Soon after his arrival I noticed something different with his eyes. I didnt notice this when I went to view him.
He has what I can only describe as milky substance inside the corneal lens. Very very similar to when my little JRT had caterachts.
G was purchased unpassported and unvetted. As far as I am concerned, whatever health problems we are thrown i ma happy to accept and deal with as he is 101% the right pony for us, and as those of you who have children will understand, a pony's temperament is the most important thing. It was a personal decision and we are happy to take on any health problems he may have.
I was told he was 9 years old.
I have the vet coming out to do his passport, and will get an MOT done on him then. But before then, I am just trying to look into this.
He doesnt seem to have any impared vision, not spooky, not easily shocked or suprised, and is totally happy with strange noises on either side. Both eyes seem to have the same amount of whiteness. I have tried putting my hands near both eyes and he doesnt even blink, which strikes me as odd. He won't even blink if his face is being brushed by an over-zealous child. Wether that's just him, I don't know (he is very very laid back).
I am pretty sure that he does have something wrong there, and pretty sure it is caterachts.
Does anyone have any info on the long term prognosis of this? Can it be treated? Will it make him go blind? Is he too young, at 9, to have this? Or is it possible he may be much older? (again, I really don't care how old he is, as he is the right pony). A link to any info would be gratefully recieved as I want to read up on it before the vet comes so i can discuss it at length and make sure I understand everything.

Thanks

 

[madhector]

my old mare had cataracts in both her eyes, one caused by a trauma the other was a slightly progressive cataract, vet passed her on a 5 stage vetting (this was an eye specialist) as she said neither would affect her working life, so not anything to worry about, both her eyes had a milky look to them, anyway i wouldnt worry too much till vet has had a good look, as most cataracts dont do any harm, and vet can usually tell you how progressive they are

 

[dozzie]

I dont know much but the biggest and quite major problem you could have is insuring him for your children to ride. I only know this as a friend had this happen and the insurance company refused to insure her horse for any riding. But I think they were quite advanced and horse was in his late teens. Dont want to worry you but pray it isnt cataracts! Sorry!!

On the bright side it could be nothing to worry about. My horse has something wrong with her eyes but it isnt a problem and she is totally insurable.

 

[Christmas_Kate]

Thankyou, I was under the impression that they eventually led to blindness. My old JRT evetually lost all the sight in both his eyes, and back then the vets couldnt do a thing.

Thanks again, it's set my mind at ease a little, so fingers crossed when the vet comes.

 

[Stinkbomb]

I have had no personal experience of this in horses but have found some links that might help. The first one explains abit about cataracts and the second about the surgery if needed. All i will say is that even if the worst outcome happens i.e. blindness in one eye ( and am sure that this is not the case )
am sure that your pony will adapt easily. most people associate partial loss of sight as the end of the road. I however have lived a "normal" life for the last two years having lost one eye myself. Takes a short time to adapt but really not the end of the world.
Am sure if there is something not quite right you sound the kind of person who will love him anyway!! He's a lucky pony.
Cataracts

Good luck and hope it turns out ok.

Cataract surgery

 

[fizzer]

we had a girl in our yard a few years back who purchased a beautiful event horse which had been vetted for someone else and the vet had noted this slightly cloudy eye, the purchasers pulled out so this girl got a very experienced event horse at a good price it was noted on the vetting and her insurers were fine but had an exclusion on both eyes, her vet told her that he was fine to hack and jump. she had this horse for 5 years and won everything, he did start to get worse and finally had him pts, she took the risk but was glad she had him

 

[dozzie]

Its really great to hear that some peoples experience with cataracts is positive. I must admit, after I posted I did have second thoughts about friend as a lot of her horses have been "deleted" due to various behaviour issues- she never sells them on. Perhaps I wasnt told the real truth.

Good luck with the pony. Im sure it will be fine.

 

[fairhill]

My old TB had a cataract in his left eye. He passed a vetting (age 12) when we got him, so it was either missed by the vet or developed later. We only found out about it 3 years later when we tried to sell him, and he failed the vetting.

He was jumping, doing dressage and hacking out quite happily for another year after we found out about them, as we kept him for a bit longer.

The vet couldn't really give us much info, he'd lost most of the vision in his left eye by that point, so there was nothing that they could do. However his right eye was clear and he had obviously adapted well.

Good luck with your pony x

 

[summertoots]

I bought a horse a few years back with congenital caterachts (born with them). He passed the vetting with this as the vet said it caused him no problems, and they would not get any worse. However I could not get him insured with my usual company, refused point blank to take him on for vet cover. It realy did cause him no probs, very bold horse and jumped for the fun of it. I sold him on to a kid who is still doing a fantastic job in her PC event team with him. Again he passed the vet and they did get vet cover for him all be it they dropped his value to do so. Oh he was seven at the time.

 

[maxebraith]

My old mare has catarachts in both her eyes but vet has told me they wont affect her in her lifetime as the are very slow developing in horses not as fast as humans. Perhaps insurance companies should look into this before deciding wether or not to insure you!