New Surgical Therapies for the Treatment of Equine Recurrent Uveitis

Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) is the most common cause of blindness in horses. It is characterized by chronic, recurrent episodes of inflammation of the iris, ciliary body, and choroid. Clinically, ERU affected horses manifest with blepharospasm, conjunctival hyperemia, aqueous flare, posterior synechiae, cataract formation, and chorioretinitis. Although traditional therapies, including antiinflammatory therapy and mydriatics, are generally effective in controlling active inflammation, they do not address prevention of future uveitic episodes. Two new surgical techniques have recently been described in the veterinary literature, the pars plana vitrectomy and the implantation of sustained release cyclosporine A devices, for management in ERU horses with the goal of minimizing recurrent inflammatory episodes. This article presents each surgical technique in detail and reviews the outcomes and complications seen in horses having received these therapies.