Laser Surgery Cures Blindness Of A Glaucoma Affected Horse

Florida doctors have restored vision of a blind horse caused through a laser surgery. The 11-year-old horse, Ego-Trip was already blind in his left-eye caused by glaucoma.

Owners Lisa and Larry Dahl and their 15-year-old daughter Victoria noticed Ego's right-eye becoming cloudy as his behavior began to change. "Ego was bumping into things and not acting the same," said Lisa Dahl. "We realized he was going totally blind."

Their primary veterinarian from Odessa Equine recommended they see an ophthalmologist for horses. They met with Dr. Franck Ollivier at Surgi-Care Center for Horses in Brandon for their first meeting in March, 2007.

"The next day after surgery, Ego returned home was back to acting like his old-self again." said Lisa. "We're very thankful."

"Glaucoma is also the number one cause of blindness in people, which is significant. We treated him with a Diode laser to decrease the production of liquid inside the eye, and therefore decrease the pressure. Since then, he is visual and comfortable" said Ollivier.

The Diode laser used in the surgery was from Florida Veterinary Specialists and Cancer Treatment Center in Tampa, a state-of-the-art specialty veterinary facility where Dr. Ollivier also practices ophthalmology for pets.

Laser Surgery Cures Blindness Of A Glaucoma Affected Horse