When clouds start rolling in, it often means a storm is brewing. For horses with cloudy eyes, the source of that storm could be one of many. Fortunately, veterinarians are well-versed in the diagnostic and treatment options for cloudy-eyed horses.

Caroline Monk, DVM, an ophthalmology resident at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, reviewed the diagnostic options and differential diagnoses for cloudy eyes at the 2013 American Association of Equine Practitioners' Convention, held Dec. 7-11 in Nashville, Tenn.

"The nonulcerated cloudy eye is a frequent presenting complaint, and different etiologies have similar manifestations," Monk explained. Because the eye's condition can degenerate rapidly with incorrect or no treatment, a quick, accurate diagnosis is key, she said.

Therefore, a thorough ocular exam is critical