Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Horse with eye watering and spasms due to abnormal hairs
By Chiwitt, Carolin L H et al.·Published in Veterinary ophthalmology·2020·TKS Tierä, Germany·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Bilateral third eyelid ectopic cilia in an adult horse.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 15-year-old Cob mare had been experiencing watery eyes and squinting in her right eye for four months. The vet found two unusual hairs growing from her third eyelid, which were causing irritation and damage to the eye. After removing the affected part of the third eyelid, the symptoms returned, leading to another surgery to remove more abnormal hairs. Eventually, the mare developed similar issues in her left eye, which was also treated successfully. After the final surgery, she showed no further problems for four years.
People also search for: horse eye problems · mare squinting · third eyelid surgery for horses · chronic epiphora in horses
Abstract
A 15-year-old Cob mare presented with a 4-month history of chronic epiphora and intermittent blepharospasm in the right eye. On ophthalmic examination, two translucent aberrant hairs were identified at the third eyelid margin corresponding to an area of corneal fibrosis and neovascularization. Partial excision of the third eyelid was performed, and histopathology confirmed ectopic hair follicles. Two weeks later, clinical signs recurred in the same eye. Examination revealed another pair of aberrant hairs on the bulbar surface of the third eyelid near its leading edge. This portion of the third eyelid was also excised, and histopathology confirmed two additional ectopic hair follicles. Eight months later, the horse developed similar clinical signs in the left eye. Ophthalmic examination showed a single aberrant translucent hair at the third eyelid margin associated with focal fibrosis and neovascularization of the ventromedial cornea. Partial excision of the third eyelid was performed, and histopathology confirmed an ectopic hair follicle within the third eyelid conjunctiva. Excision was curative at 4 years postoperatively with no further recurrence in either eye.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33462922/