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Moonblindness - ERU

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Equine Recurrent Uveitis - hope for those horses that suffer this disease

Moon blindness is a very painful and distressing condition of the horse. It has been our experience that, if good quality natural medicine treatment is not employed from the outset, the outlook for the affected eye is grim. Steroid treatment is usual in conventional medicine. If treatment fails, the eye may need to be removed (enucleation). If the second eye becomes affected . . .

The usual outlook is well described, with good pictures, at: www.squidoo.com/moonblindness

The cause (aetiology - etiology) of this disease is unknown but there have been suggestions that a Leptospiral organism may be involved.

Other names for the disease are equine recurrent uveitis, ERU, recurrent uveitis, recurrent ophthalmia, periodic ophthalmia and periodic uveitis.

Symptoms / Signs

Early signs are watering of the affected eye, with sensitivity to sunlight, which causes the horse to blink excessively or to shut the eye.

The cornea (front of the eye) can then become cloudy or the eye itself appears cloudy.

Pain becomes very evident in more advanced cases, with the eye forcibly closed (blepharospasm) whenever anyone approaches or closed even when the horse is undisturbed.

Cataract can form in advanced cases and the lens can wither and fall out of place. Glaucoma (increased pressure in the eye) is not unusual.

This condition is not to be confused with corneal ulceration or with Listeriosis (which latter can be acquired from silage or haylage).

Who is susceptible?

We have seen this disease in horses and in ponies. However, the Appaloosa may be more susceptible than most, perhaps on account of the lack of pigmentation around the eye.

Strong sunlight aggravates the condition.

Treatment

Acupuncture needlesWe use acupuncture and homeopathy, in an integrated therapeutic programme.

We have observed, over a significant number of cases, that acupuncture can bring immediate relief from the worst pain symptoms, with a closed eye opening in response.

Successive acupuncture treatments induce an increasing response until the episode appears to cease.

If the condition recurs, as it is quite likely to do, we need to start another course of acupuncture. Successive episodes have been observed to become less and less severe and less and less frequent, until they have ceased in most cases.

Homeopathic treatment is continued throughout.

We also look into diet and management.

Prognosis

We have not yet lost an eye in a case treated in this way from the outset. Likewise, sight of affected eyes has been retained using this methodology.

Summary

This very serious disease appears to be treatable using natural holistic medicine.

Steroid treatment may damage the eye and eventually reduce the likelihood of a cure.

Steroids can increase susceptibility to laminitis.

A combination of acupuncture and homeopathy has been very successful to date in practice.

The author is independent of commercial interest or sponsorship and cannot endorse any products or advertising material attached to this lens.

For more information, visit AVMC's information website (over 600 pages).

Chris Day - holistic vet - runs the Alternative Veterinary Medicine Centre in Oxfordshire (AVMC) in Oxfordshire, UK.

N.B.

Uveitis is a serious condition with which we have found a surprising level of success, using natural medicine methods in an integrated treatment programme.

My Equine Health Lenses

Horse dozingJust hit the title to open the lens of your choice

Laminitis in Ponies

Headshaking in Horses

Acupuncture for Horses and Ponies

Homeopathy for Horses and Ponies

Herbal Medicine for Animals

Back Problems in Horses and Ponies

Moonblindness - ERU

Arthritis in Horses and Ponies

How to give Homeopathic Medicines to Dogs, Cats and Horses

Saddling - How saddling can affect horse health and welfare

Useful Links

The AVMC's website
over 600 pages of information on alternative, complementary, natural and holistic methods in veterinary medicine.
AVMC on Moonblindness
An account of our experience with this disease
Squidoo on Moonblindness
Another lens on the subject of Moon blindness / ERU - the prospects appear a little more gloomy in the article.

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Please comment

  • sousababy Apr 9, 2011 @ 8:49 am | delete
    Lensrolled to my: Preventable Eye Injuries, Squidoo people with a good heart and Preventive Medicine is UNDERfunded, why? lenses.
  • ChrisDay Apr 10, 2011 @ 12:01 am | delete
    That's most kind of you, thanks.
  • Margo_Arrowsmith Feb 25, 2011 @ 7:07 am | delete
    I envy your knowledge of horses
  • ChrisDay Apr 10, 2011 @ 12:01 am | delete
    They are lovely creatures.
  • sousababy Jan 1, 2011 @ 12:12 am | delete
    Uveitis in humans certainly is difficult for ophthalmologists to treat and tend to be recurrent. Indeed, steroids increase the likelihood of both cataract and glaucoma. Your success rate sounds very promising. I certainly need to educate myself more about this, as I have never heard of acupuncture or dietary measures being successful. Do you use eye drops on horses? Just curious. Thank you Dr. Day for sharing. Stay Well, Rose
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ChrisDay

All My Lenses: http://www.squidoo.com/chrisdays-lensography.
I am also now on Amplify.com: http://chrisday.amplify.com/
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