Post traumatic keratouveitis in horses.

Traumatic keratouveitis in horses is characterised by a unilateral, aseptic, vascularising keratitis accompanied by moderate to severe anterior uveitis. In a series of 9 cases of post traumatic keratouveitis, topical and systemic nonsteroidal drugs and atropine were used to control the anterior uveitis while allowing spontaneous corneal healing. Among the 9 cases reported, 6 affected eyes previously treated with local corticosteroids took significantly longer to resolve when compared to 3 eyes in which corticosteroids had not been administered. It was concluded that, in cases of equine post traumatic keratouveitis, locally administered corticosteroids inhibit healing of damaged corneal stroma and, by prolonging the keratitis, perpetuate the concurrent anterior uveitis.