Q: My horse has suddenly started being spooky – could his eyesight be deteriorating?
A: Horses can suffer from age-related sight deterioration, as can humans, although the changes are much more difficult to diagnose in horses than humans!
Lots of things could cause an increase in spookiness, and it is certainly worth speaking to your vet about them. However, eye issues are definitely one thing to rule out. Speak to your vet about an ocular exam. Some vets do this themselves, and others refer to specialists. Either way, it is worth getting the eyes checked.
Some conditions, such as cataracts or epithelial iris cysts, can affect vision and can sometimes be treated surgically. Age-related changes, on the other hand, tend to have limited treatment options. However, as horses rely less on seeing fine details (visual acuity) than humans, they generally adapt well to these changes, especially given their powerful senses of smell and hearing.
Did you know?
This loss of fine visual detail with age is due to a reduction in the flexibility of the lens over time and usually will start to happen in most horses from age seven onwards, although there is significant individual variation.