Veterinary Research Forum

Abstract Ocular ultrasonography is a safe, painless and non-invasive diagnostic tool that provides veterinarians with detailed images of the eye and surrounding structures. This study evaluated 30 clinically healthy Turkmen horses, divided into two groups as Group 1: under 36 months (3 males, 8 females), and Group 2: 36 months and older (8 males, 11 females). Significant differences in several ocular parameters were identified across different age groups in Turkmen horses. Specifically, the mean intercanthal distance, globe diameter, ciliary body volume and area, iris thickness, corpora nigra distance, volume and area, vitreous chamber and retinal/choroidal/scleral composite size demonstrated statistically significant variations between age categories. No significant differences were detected between sexes within any of the age groups for above measured parameters. Of the ocular parameters evaluated, only anterior chamber depth, central lens thickness and ciliary body thickness demonstrated statistically significant differences based on both sex and age. The average corneal thickness of the left and right eyes, as measured in sagittal and dorsal planes, was similar in both male horses under 36 months and those 36 months or older when compared to their respective female counterparts. No significant differences were observed between measurements of the left and right eyes, nor were there significant discrepancies between sagittal and dorsal measurements. These findings provided a baseline for understanding normal ocular ultrasonographic features in Turkmen horses and might aid in diagnosis and management of ocular diseases specific to this breed.