Corneal stromal abcesses are mostly seen in horses.
The most common eye abscess seen in horses is the corneal stromal abscess. According to the website "theHorse.com," "The corneal stromal abscess is a very serious and potentially vision-threatening condition that can follow apparently minor corneal ulceration in the horse."
Definitions
The cornea is the transparent layer that permits light to reach the interior structures of the eye.
An abscess is "a localized collection of dead tissue and white blood cells."
Stroma is a type of connective tissue that constitutes most of the cornea's tissue makeup.
Significance
The cornea is one of the most sensitive tissues found in the body, meaning an abscess in the cornea is extremely painful. Because it is difficult to determine what is happening in the eye without medical equipment, it is important to have eye injuries examined promptly by a veterinarian.
What Happens
When the eye receives a puncture injury, an ulcer forms around the wounded area. Debris and bacteria can get trapped inside this area, causing infection.
Treatment
Equine eye injuries should be seen as soon as possible by a veterinarian. If the abscess is superficial, medical treatment such as topical antibiotics may be enough. Surgical treatment is often performed for deeper abscesses or abscesses that do not respond to medical treatment.
Warning
Prompt treatment can prevent permanent sight loss. Many horses regain full sight. In extreme cases, corneal transplantation is performed using donated corneas harvested from horse cadavers within 24 hours of death. In cases that are not caught quickly, the horse may permanently lose vision in the eye and/or require removal of the eye.
Tags: corneal stromal, corneal stromal abscess, medical treatment, seen horses, stromal abscess
