Hi all-

We have a 2 yr old arab with hi white stockings, bald face and blue eyes.  He's probably gonna be one of those horses who look great when he's 5 or 6 but now is rather starteling and gawky.   Anyway, he has a discharge on and off  from both eyes.   time of yr. dosn't seem to matter and he's not overly sensitive to flys.  I've put a fly mask on but he usually gets it off somehow or gets it caught on something or sometimes gets a snot like discharge inside the mask which irritates him more cause he can't rub it so makes more of a mess. 

He had rhodococcus as a baby but got over it w/ months of treatment and now  is fine.  eats, plays, charges around and has plenty of energy.

Any suggestions on how to clear up his eye discharge?  I've stained his eyes- no ulcers, foreign objects, tear ducts are fine.. he's not easy to medicate but we have used several eye meds and no improvement. 

very frustrating!

Time to call the vet.  You'll be asking about this problem but suggesting the possibility of taking a culture and sensitivity from the discharge and see if there are any meds that will help.  (I've found writing down all your treatment attempts, dates/dose/results will clear up any questions or assumptions and can streamline the beginning steps of diagnosis.)

Another route once the infection has been ruled out 100% could be to tattoo "eyeliner" around the eye to give it some light reflective properties.  This is the same reason you see athletes with "war paint" under their eyes, it reduces glare.  If your horse is squinting to shield his eyes from the bright light this could explain the constant discharge.  If you want to test this theory, open your eyes as wide as you can when the light is really bright and don't squint.  You'll find your eyes watering and if you keep it up you'll have a nasty head ache too.

I feel you have really done just about all you can on your own to try treating this condition but it may be time to call in professional back-up.

Thanks for your suggestions.   Not being disrepectful but we've done all that- C&S of discharge, occular exam by several DVM's including an opthmologist, etc etc.  He's not squinting and  the eyes don't seem painful.   (you can pm me for all the details)

I was worried about the rhodococcus recurring but thankfully thats not the case. 

Some days he has a discharge and some not... but it normally is in both eyes  when it's there.    He's pretty agreeable to letting me wipe his eyes but it sticks to the skin on either side of his face and it's a struggle cleaning it off.  Sounds silly but  maybe painting something dark on either side of his eyelids would help?   and what should we use to do that?

I keep thinking it has something to do w/ his eyes being blue.   but on the other hand have seen several blue eyed horses and they don't seem to have any problems... this baby has been a real learning experience from the time he hit the ground.   we won't even talk about all the $ he's cost... but he's got his mother's laid back disposition and should be just as athletic so he'll be a great distance horse when he grows up.

I'm glad you've already done those things.

You can't really paint around the eye but you should look into the tattoo.

Allergies are a realistic cause, I'd rule this out with an allergy shot and see if the symptoms improve or disappear.  This should be a fairly cheap test of the allergy theory.  Does the problem seem worse or better at a certain time of year?  Are your shavings dusty?  Does this horse stand with his face directly in front of his stall fan?

Unless there is a deformity of his eye the color shouldn't play a role.  Has the white area of his eye started to turn brown and color over?

my colt has much the same issue....though he is a red roan and does not have the blue eye issue....Ive noticed it tends to be an issue when it is summer/dry and also when he is being fed hay vs. strictly grazing....through some trial and error, Ive come to suspect is an airborn allergen and/or dust issue...

during the summer if it rains and stays wet...no discharge...when its wet there is no dust from neighbors dry lots or the dirt/white rock roads that border his paddock

when he is being fed hay (during winter since grass is limited) he will get the discharge....unless I presoak his hay (yeah, i have no life and he is spoiled)...take a big muck bucket/empty lick tub/trough/etc and give the flakes of hay a good dunking just before you feed them....or feed them directly from the bucket/lick tub and hose them down with water...

and when all else fails his eyes and nose get wiped once or twice a day with a warm rag and he is no worse for wear.....