Conference noted::equitation

>    It's at the front corner, the eye has been running a little
>    with small gobs of discharge, noticable swelling and heat.
>    Area was tender to the touch, too.
    
   This sounds like more than a blocked tear duct. (It may be
   an infection that originated as a blocked duct or injury-related.)
   I'd have the vet check it out.

   Even if it does turn out to be a blocked duct, it may really 
   need to be flushed. Flushing is a simple procedure, and the
   vet should give you some antibiotic ointment to put in the eye 
   for a few days so that a secondary infection doesn't get started
   by the material dislodged in the flushing.
    

    << flushing is a simple procedure
    
    You haven't seen Abe's behavior when a vet shows up! (8

   This is true! 
   Time to go stock up on carrots, eh? ;*}

   Please keep us posted on what happens.

    This is fun.....telephone tag w/ the vet!  (long distance, yet!)

    My description to the vet semi confirms what I thought.....
    blocked tear duct.  Hot compresses for 20 min stints to see if
    it improves and if not, vet comes tomorrow morning to flush out
    and give me medication....
    

  Oh Lynne, you're going to have a FUN weekend! ;*}

    Good luck, Lynne....I'll be thinking of you! :-)
    
    Linda,
    who-also-has-a-bratty-beast-with-a-hatred-for-all-things-related-
    to-curing-his-ills. :-)
    

    Well, I'm proud to say that the brat was an angel when it
    came to the hot compresses. (which seem to be working, BTW)
    
    He didn't blink an eye when I started the hot compress process! (;

    The compresses may actually feel good.  Which is a lucky thing!

    Oh, help help help!
    
    My poor poor beasties have swolen eyes.  
    
    Stealthy 21yr. TB pregnant - Both eyes swolen, left eye worse then
    right eye but.  Heat in only left eye.  Eyelid membrain is red but no
    discharge.
    
     Berry 6yr. QH not pregnant - Left eye swolen, little heat, no
    discharge.
    
    Tiny 5yr QH pregnant - Left eye swolen a little, no heat no discharge.
    
    Agggggg!  I could handle this as fly irration or maybe pollen or dust
    but it is the left eye on all three.  I have been giving them Source in
    their A&M.  I would think and allergic reaction would be all over their
    body, not just their eyes.  I checked the pasture for unusual things,
    found another baseball and an orange golf ball.  Nothing seemed out of
    place.  I haven't called the vet yet either.  I will do that later and
    let you all know what he thinks.  What do you all think?
    
    Also, does anyone else use Source?  If so, do you happen to have the
    manufacturer's number so I can call them and see if maybe there is
    something in it that might cause this.
    
    What next?
    
    Virginia

    
    Sorry if this way off beam - but....
    Could your poor horses have been used as targets for the balls ?
    
    Hope you find the real answer soon.
    
    Judy

    The vet called!  He said I needed something Sistemic?  I don't think I
    spelled it right and I have heard the term before.  He said that puting
    something in their eyes probably wont help.  So what is this that he
    wants me to use?  I felt like a idiot to ask so I didn't, plus I am at
    work and the phone was ringing off the hook.
    
    The vet actually asked who the right handed person was that was beating
    our horses in the eye.  I had to laugh.  I did think that maybe someone
    was throwing something at them but I doubt that they would have that
    good aim or that the horses would have gone back for more after being
    hit once.  Oh well, I am going to go directly to the barn after work
    and see how they are.  Then to the dr's office to get the stuff.
    
    Thanks so much.
    
    Virginia

    Systemic isn't a drug name. It just a generic term that describes a
    drug that works throughout the horse's whole body(i.e.system) rather than 
    locally like an eye ointment would.

    Well thank you.  I thought it was a general term but my brains have
    left me the last few weeks.  My husband is in Saudi and was supposed to
    fly home today.  After what happened this weekend, I have no Idea when
    He will be back.
    
    The eyes seemed to go down the next day.  It seems to have been from
    the flys.  The way I figured out why one eye was worse than the other
    and one horse was worse than the other is this:
    
    Stealthy - Worst case.  Her forelock is very short and falls to the
    right.  Therefor, her left eye was exposed more than her right but
    both had very little protection.
    
    Berry - Not as bad as the first one.  Has longer forelock but hers
    falls to the right also so her left eye was swelled worse than the
    right but both were not as bad as the first horse.
    
    Tiny - She is about all forelock and it splits over both sides.  Her
    eyes really weren't swolen either.
    
    Everyone is fine and dandy and I bought some SWAT to try and keep the
    flys out or their eyes.
    
    Virginia

    
    	My horse has one eye swollen, top and bottom lids, with some
    	tearing. I rinsed it with boric acid eyewash, weak, and tried 
    	to get a good look. To my dismay, I'm pretty sure I saw a scratch
    	on the cornea. Fortunately, the vet was coming out this morning
    	anyway to do spring shots... Does anyone have experience with a
    	scratched cornea? What can I expect in terms of treatment, 
    	restrictions, and recovery time? Will I be able to ride?
    
    	worried horse-mom,
    	Sherry
    

    My mare did this once, about 10 years ago.  The vet gave me some
    drops to use 2 daily - one to keep the pupil dilated, and the other
    was an antibiotic wash to keep it clean.  She had to remain in a
    darkened stall for about a week (Im not sure of the exact timeframe
    now, it was a long time ago) due to the dilated pupil.  She was a
    calm, easy, cooperative patient, allowed the drops readily, and
    recovered fully. There is no visible scar, her vision is fine, and
    I have never noticed the slightest difference.
    

    No experience w/ horses but I scratched my own cornea once. That type
    of injury heals well if treated ASAP. In my case, I got treated the same 
    day. I had to put in anitbiotic ointment and wear an eye patch. Within 
    3 - 4 days, I was fine. No aftereffects. 
    
    Good luck!

    
    	Well, the vet said she only saw a teeny-tiny mark that probably
    	was a scratch. Yesterday I know I saw something about -->[]<--
    	as big as that block. She said often the eye heals very quickly
    	on its own and I shouldn't worry about it. The swelling and
    	discharge are also about gone. Maybe he did it right before I
    	saw it yesterday and that's why it was so swollen then. I'll look
    	at it again tonight. 
    
    	Oh, and one thing I DID learn from this is - always keep a small
    	flashlight in your tack box. :}
    
    	Sherry
    

    I had a severe scratch on my cornea, almost lost my right eye a 
    few years ago. It was treated with a steriod cream for a few
    days and I have no problems now. Just try to keep her out of
    dusty areas for a few days, maybe one of those fly screens
    would help.
     Carl

    
    	Thank you Carl. He always wears a fly mask - except the end of last
    week when it was raining. He probably injured it then. Figures. :)
    
    	Sherry