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Checking the condition of a newborn foal’s eyes is an important part of the young horse’s first veterinary examination. Though some problems such as congenital retinal detachment can’t be corrected, many defects will resolve without treatment and others can be alleviated with surgery.

Foals may be born with unusually small eyeballs, while congenital glaucoma causes the eyeball to enlarge rapidly after birth. Arteries and membranes present in the fetal eye may not regress completely at birth, but usually disappear eventually without treatment. Dermoids are small patches of skin tissue, with or without hair, that are attached to eye structures. These can be removed surgically. Entropion, a condition where the eyelid is turned inward, can also be corrected with surgery to prevent constant irritation. Bleeding within the eye can be caused by trauma associated with a difficult birth. This bleeding will usually clear up on its own, while cloudy lenses caused by cataracts usually do not improve.

Inflammation of eye tissues can be related to generalized infection (sepsis) and will resolve when the infection is treated. Corneal ulceration is a risk for foals that are ill and spend a lot of time lying down, a position in which the eye may contact bedding or padded mats in a veterinary clinic.

Like many other health problems, any signs of inflammation or irritation in a foal’s eyes will clear up most easily if treatment is begun promptly. A veterinarian should always be asked to examine a foal if there is an indication of any abnormality involving the eyes.

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