Ocular disease in working horses in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study.
Authors: Scantlebury C E, Aklilu N, Reed K, Knottenbelt D C, Gebreab F, Pinchbeck G L
Journal: The Veterinary record
Summary
# Ocular Disease in Working Horses in Ethiopia: Editorial Summary Eye disease represents a significant but largely unrecognised welfare concern in working horses in low-income settings, with this Ethiopian study revealing that whilst 43% of 1049 working horses examined presented pathology in at least one eye, only 1.9% of presentations were motivated by ocular problems. Cross-sectional examination using basic field equipment (pen-torch assessment) identified ocular abnormalities in 23.5% of individual horses, ranging from mild pathology to end-stage irreversible disease, with a notable predominance of right-eye involvement and increased prevalence in older animals. Perhaps most troubling was the profound disconnect between clinical findings and owner awareness: only 55% of owners had observed abnormalities their horses presented, and merely 2.2% had ever received treatment for eye disease, suggesting either limited understanding of clinical signs or prioritisation of other health concerns. The findings highlight a critical capacity gap in equine eye care within working horse populations, where even moderate ophthalmic disease often progresses unchecked with consequent impacts on performance, safety and welfare. For practitioners engaged with working horses globally—whether through direct treatment, owner education or policy advocacy—these data underscore the importance of proactive ocular screening and owner training as fundamental components of preventive health programmes, particularly where veterinary access is constrained.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Working horse owners in resource-limited settings show poor recognition of eye disease; veterinarians should implement active screening and owner education programs
- •Age is a significant risk factor for ocular disease in working horses; preventive monitoring should intensify in older animals
- •Right eye predilection suggests investigation of occupational or environmental risk factors related to harness use or work environment positioning
Key Findings
- •Prevalence of ocular abnormalities was 23.5% (95% CI 18.0–30.1%), with 43% of horses having abnormality in at least one eye
- •Right eye had significantly more abnormalities than left eye
- •Older horses were significantly more likely to have ocular pathology
- •Only 55.1% of owners noticed ocular abnormalities and only 2.2% had received previous treatment, indicating low owner awareness