The commonest problems we see affecting horse eyelids are listed at right. Entropion is commonly seen in foals and is a leading cause of corneal ulceration. Eyelid lacerations seem to result from horse's propensity to get tangled up in anything which could be a hazard in a stall or on a fence.
Abnormal eyelid cilia (hairs/eyelashes) which may grow from the eyelid margin (distichiasis) or the back of the eyelid (ectopic cilia) and abrade the cornea occasionally are seen in horses. They may be seen in young horses or older animals associated with eyelid scarring (from injuries). These problems are easily corrected surgically. Simply plucking or cutting the hairs is not effective - they can grow back and cause even more corneal irritation.
Apart form these conditions most of the other eyelid problems seen are tumors affecting the lids (and often other adjacent parts of the eye). These tumors often can quite challenging to treat effectively - but there are various new treatment approaches which we are using at Equine Eye Vets.
