Recurrent eye ulcers - never ending - fed up

[Reacher]

Update- mare is currently in surgery. Just spoken to surgeon.

Ulcer is right on edge of the cornea, under the 3rd eyelid which makes it difficult to operate. He has concern about being able to remove all of it I think thus it might not heal properly.

However she has large cysts on the good eye which are across the pupil so if bad eye was removed then she could have compromised vision in the other eye.

So he is going to do another keratectomy (debriding the eye back to healthy tissue , same as previous ops). The subsequent ulcers have moved across the eye from where previous ones were which indicates the scar tissue from previous ops is working to glue down the cornea in those places.

I’m kind of glad she is keeping the eye (though trying not to think about it recurring!)

 

[SEL]

Update- mare is currently in surgery. Just spoken to surgeon.

Ulcer is right on edge of the cornea, under the 3rd eyelid which makes it difficult to operate. He has concern about being able to remove all of it I think thus it might not heal properly.

However she has large cysts on the good eye which are across the pupil so if bad eye was removed then she could have compromised vision in the other eye.

So he is going to do another keratectomy (debriding the eye back to healthy tissue , same as previous ops). The subsequent ulcers have moved across the eye from where previous ones were which indicates the scar tissue from previous ops is working to glue down the cornea in those places.

I’m kind of glad she is keeping the eye (though trying not to think about it recurring!)

Keeping everything crossed it goes well for her xx

 

[Reacher]

Keeping everything crossed it goes well for her xx

Thankyou @SEL

Just spoken to surgeon again, he has finished and is pleased with how it went. I’ve popped out to see her in the stable.
Can load her up in 15 mins or so.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Thankyou @SEL

Just spoken to surgeon again, he has finished and is pleased with how it went. I’ve popped out to see her in the stable.
Can load her up in 15 mins or so.

I'm glad the op went well and can understand why vets have been reluctant to remove the eye, as the other is also compromised.

 

[magicmoments]

You sound like you have a way forward, and a valid reason for not removing the problematic eye. I hope everything goes well with the op, and fingers crossed it doesn't reappear again.
I know this is too late for you now, but just for anyone who searches in the future. My mare had an eye ulcer, and eye abcess. Eye removal was the only viable option I was offered. My choice was to pts for a number of reasons, which the vet was very dismissive of initially, but over the coming days of vet visits trying to treat, and reassess the vet understood my reasons, and could actually see that I was trying to do the best for my mare taking everything into account, not just the eye.. The problem I find with vets is that they are very good at diagnosing, giving the veterinary options, but often not so good at finding the best option for both the horse and owner, both mentally and physically, they are very text book. Fortunately once I've listened to their advice, I will make up my own mind, and will not change my mind, however much they try. My horse, my decision, as I know them best, and the situation at the livery yard. I regret she had the eye problems, but not once have I regretted having her pts.

 

[Reacher]

I'm glad the op went well and can understand why vets have been reluctant to remove the eye, as the other is also compromised.

Thankyou.
I’d forgotten about the cyst, in fact i previously stitched an eye patch on her fly mask to shade the other eye after a previous op and I didn’t notice any issues with her sight while only using the one eye.

She seemes bright this evening (and glad to be home ).

@magicmoments sorry your mare had those issues and you had to make a hard decision