INFO: A Holistic Look at Chronic Uveitis

This condition is a chronic inflammation of the internal structures of the eye. Symptoms include pain, swelling, cloudiness of the cornea, pus in the anterior chamber of the eye and contraction of the pupil. Initial episodes and subsequent flare-ups will often respond to steroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and atropine but relapse occurs within weeks to months after treatment is stopped. Each attack causes more damage to the eye, eventually leading to blindness. The inflammation generally starts in one eye but moves to the other eye causing complete blindness.

Several causative factors have been suggested for anterior uveitis. Some horses with uveitis will have elevated titers to leptospira, an organism which affects cattle primarily. B-vitamin deficiency has also been considered. The bottom line is that this is an autoimmune disease which means the immune system is out of balance and is attacking the horse's own eye tissue.

After many frustrating years treating this condition with Western medicine I have moved away from drugs to focus more on rebalancing the immune system. When I am consulted on a patient in an acute flare-up my first focus is to control the pain and inflammation. I have had good results with a solution of half hypericum tincture and half calendula tincture diluted in warm water as the rate of 1cc (1 ml) hypercal solution in 30cc (30 ml) water or saline. This solutions is soaked into a gauze sponge and placed as a poultice over the eye. I do not try to get the solution into the eye directly. Horses seem to get excellent relief with this treatment and will often lower their heads and become very relaxed. This method can be done 4-6 times a day. I find frequent attempts to force medications into the eye can cause more inflammation and create great resistance in the horse. An exception would be if the horse has an actual ulcer of the cornea which might require antibiotic treatment. Rather than systemic non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents I have had some good success with B-1 solution which is a mix of devil's claw and yucca.

I also start these horses on a product from Standard Process called Oculotrophin. This product is made from eye tissue which has been treated to extract the antigen to which the immune system is reacting. The theory is that by feeding this protomorphogen, the immune system will be occupied with the eye antigen in the bloodstream and not attack the eye itself. Since the horse's eye has time to heal it will not continue to attract the immune system as it did when it was in constant inflammation. I find the Oculotrophin needs to be fed continuously for 6-12 months in some cases.

To address any nutrient deficiencies I feed large amounts of a Cell TechT product called Sprouts & Algae. This product is very high in beta-carotene and supplies the body with natural concentrated nutrients to make super-oxide dismutase - a potent anti-oxidant.

Once the acute flare-up has quieted down, I start with constitutional treatment to balance the immune system. I generally use homeopathy and take a full history to include other health issues that the horse has experienced. I suggest vaccinations be discontinued because they can trigger attacks by stimulating the immune system. I suggest blue-green algae be added to the diet because of its high chlorophyll. I warn owners to expect further flare-ups as this condition is very difficult to treat. The attacks should gradually become less frequent and less severe.

Contributed By: Madalyn Ward, DVM