If your horse is dealing with cataract-associated vision loss, researchers have some good news: Recent study results suggest that more than 25% of horses that undergo a certain type of cataract surgery are still visual two years later.

“Cataract surgery can benefit a diverse group of foals and horses secondary to a congenital defect, trauma, equine recurrent uveitis or ERU, and other unknown causes,” said Dennis Brooks, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVO, a professor of ophthalmology at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine.

Cataracts are optical opacities, or cloudiness, in the lens of the eye that can range in size from a tiny spot to the entire lens. Typically, vision loss is proportional to the size and location of the opacity within the lens.

“Surgery is the treatment of choice because no known medical therapy for cataracts is known, and surgery is recommended in horses or foals that are unable to perform their regular activities,” Brooks explained