What are the types of cataracts in horses?

• A. Congenital and acquired
• B. Age-related and traumatic
• C. Hereditary and infectious
• D. Metabolic and inflammatory

Answer: (A)

Cataracts in horses are best understood by whether they are present from birth or develop later. Congenital cataracts are those seen in foals or very young horses due to developmental or genetic factors. Acquired cataracts appear after birth and arise from insults to the lens such as trauma, chronic intraocular inflammation (uveitis), metabolic disturbances, or toxin exposure. This simple split into congenital versus acquired is clinically useful because it points to different causes, prognoses, and management options: congenital lesions often imply a developmental/genetic issue and can be bilateral, while acquired cataracts reflect a postnatal insult that may be addressed or managed differently. Age-related cataracts aren’t typically considered a primary category in horses, and traumatic cataracts are encompassed within the broader acquired group, with other etiologies like inflammatory or metabolic causes falling under that same umbrella.