Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Four cases of traumatic optic nerve blindness in the horse.
- Journal:
- Equine veterinary journal
- Year:
- 1986
- Authors:
- Martin, L et al.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
In this study, four horses experienced sudden blindness in one or both eyes due to trauma affecting their optic nerves. After the injury, their pupils were dilated and unresponsive, and they showed no reaction to threats. Over the next few weeks, the area at the back of their eyes became paler, and the blood vessels in the retina were significantly reduced. The problem was caused by the optic nerve being stretched and damaged when the brain moved backward during the injury. Unfortunately, medical treatments did not help these horses recover their sight.
Abstract
Traumatic optic nerve atrophy is characterised clinically by a unilateral or bilateral sudden onset of blindness. Dilated, fixed pupils and a lack of a menace reflex are the only abnormalities noted soon after the trauma. Within three to four weeks the optic disc becomes paler and the retinal vasculature is markedly decreased. The pathological lesion is a rupture of the nerve axons from stretching forces produced by the posterior movement of the brain against the fixed canalicular portion of the optic nerves. Medical therapy has not been successful.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3698952/