Sore eye, should I call a vet?

[WillowKnicks]

1 of my mare's eyes is watery (as is the other...bloody flys!!!) but the lower eyelid is swollen & sort of exposed. It doesn't look too angry but is very noticeable. I have just bathed it in tepid saltwater.

I am very guilty of ringing the vet at every little thing much to the chagrin of my farrier & have run up a nice little earner for the vet in the last few months...so...do I get on to the vet AGAIN in the morning or should I carry on with saltwater/something else for a couple of days?

We're going on holiday on Friday, so would really like this sorting before I go.

[chocolatecakeystuff]

Id just get some eye cream from the chemist... you can buy iy over the counter I think (just tell them its for you) exactly the same as thr stuff the vet would give.... unless you suspect uv-itus ... in which case call vet...

[SingingTunelessly]

Normally I'd agree with cakey re the eye drops but it's the fact you say the lower lid is exposed that makes me think call the vet. My horse had a slightly swollen eye a few weeks ago which was weeping. I ummed and ahhed for a few minutes but called vet out. Thankfully I did as he had a minute thorn puncture.

[PoorDumbRita]

If it is responding to the salt water I would continue with that and stick a fly mask on. There is a good chance that the flies are preventing the swelling from reducing, if you can stop them you should have a better idea if you need the vet or not.

[SaggyOldClothCatPuss]

Optrex do several different types of eye drop, Im sure one of them is mildly antibiotic. Continue the bathing, but I would use single dose saline applicators that you can get from the pharmacy, and apply the drops. Put on a fly mask and see what happens over the next day or two.

[WillowKnicks]

Thanks for the great advice!

Her eye has responded really well to salt water bathing & looks normal, apart from a bit watery, so I'll carry on with that but buy some eye ointment from the pharmacy (I do this for my dog anyway) To have at hand in case it takes a turn for the worse.

Think I need to invest in a better fly mask that isn't going to keep dropping off too...hers is one that Velcros on to a head collar

[JoniR]

One of mine got a very swollen sore eye that sounds very similar to yours. It was a prickly seed from his straw/hay that got stuck in his eye. It responded really well to salt water. I was going to leave it a day before calling a vet, but it was completely better the next day.

[Lovesswimming]

I've just had the same, bathed in salt water and put fly mask on (she tries to remove and succeeds every other day!) I had vet out for something else 3 days later (eyelids still a bit swollen) she said I did the right thing but could have given her danilon as well. She said the fact pony let me touch her eye lids and bathe in salt water meant uveitis was unlikely but if I suspected it then it needed treatment straight away. Thankfully it wasn't