Glaucoma in horses

["Frank W. Vans Evers" <vans@cyberspy.com>]

Following up my earlier questions about blind horses.  My mare has been
diagnosed with Glaucoma.  She has a cataract in her right eye.   

This came up fairly suddenly.  I first took her to the vet around
3/9/98. We rode several hours on Sunday and Monday evening I noticed her
was in distress and could not find her way to her stall.  On my
examination her left eye was very blue and somewhat swollen.  I took her
to the vet the next day.

Initially he was not sure what the problem might be and treated her with
several sets of drops and bute.

Saturday I took her back for examination and she was not improving so my
vet suggested that we involve a eye doctor who specialized in animals.

The first visit by the specialist was on the 16th and he diagnosed the
glaucoma. Have patience with the dates, I am trying to reconstruct the
time line.

He and my vet put her down and relieved the pressure in the eye. The
pressure causes damage.  His further examination caused him to recommend
immediate surgery if we wanted to have any hope of saving her vision.
Not certain in any case.  So we committed to surgery and several days in
the hospital.  

The things they did are listed:
eq. eye exam initial
i/o paracentesis
laser-glau photocoag
intraocular - tpa
subconj injection - 2
oph-antimicro/combo
voltaren 5ml
acetylcysteine 10%
oph-neo/poly/gram 15
inj-flnyn meglumn 18

---------  that is the surgery

Medicine for home:

Clean eye thoroughly daily with warm water
banamine inj 2 times daily 10cc
neo/poly/gram
acetyicystrine
micro combo
trusopt
timolol
voltarin

Drops 4 times daily

--------------------

I was able to take her home on Saturday. So from Saturday to yesterday I
have been doctoring 2 times daily and 1 shot daily. Several days ago he
had me go to 2 shots. It was Wednesday because he came by my place to
see her.

I took her to the clinic yesterday for another followup.
The vet added 2 more types of drops and I will keep doing the shots 2
times daily for another week.  He feels that condition of her eye is
improving but it may be several weeks before we see improvement in
sight, if any. I hope this makes sense...

Has anyone else tried treating glaucoma?? What did your vet do,
recommend??  

/s/ Frank
-- 
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Frank W. Vans Evers
mailto:vans@cyberspy.com or mailto:vans@ccfs.centcom.mil