28/05/2026
Case Spotlight:
This lovely young pony presented out of hours after the owner identified a blackberry twig lodged within the medial canthus (inside corner) of the eye. Fortunately she was quite relaxed about the whole situation and had only mild epiphora (tearing) and ocular discharge.
The twig was embedded horizontally within the conjunctival folds of the lower eyelid anchored by two thorns. It was carefully removed under sedation and the eye assessed for any secondary trauma or corneal damage. The pony was given a single dose of anti-inflammatory medication and some antibiotic eye drops and has recovered well.
Foreign bodies involving the eye can cause significant discomfort and have the potential to result in corneal ulceration, infection and more serious ocular injury if not addressed promptly.
Commonly, horses with ocular foreign bodies show signs of pain including blepharospasm (squinting), epiphora (tears), swelling and light sensitivity.
Fortunately, prompt recognition by the owner allowed for early intervention and a straightforward favourable outcome.