Introduction

• Blindness in cattle is defined as loss of vision in one or both eyes.
• Blindness can be central or peripheral.
  • Central blindness is associated with lesions within the forebrain. Animals typically present  with a depressed menace response in one or both eyes, while the papillary light reflex (PLR) remains intact.
  • In cases of peripheral blindness, the menace reflex and PLR are absent.

Causes of blindness

• Common causes of blindness in cattle are summarized in this table: Summary of conditions causing bovine blindness.
• This article gives brief summaries of the conditions listed and is designed to be a useful overview. 
• More detailed information about specific diseases and causal organisms etc can be found by clicking on the relevant licks throughout the article.

Acquired unilateral or bilateral blindness: local conditions

Acquired unilateral or bilateral blindness: systemic conditions

Congenital/neonatal blindness

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed Papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Niles G A (2017) Toxicoses of the ruminant nervous system. Vet Clin Food Anim 33 (2017) 111–138 PubMed.
• Berge A C & Vertenten G (2014) A field study to determine the prevalence, dairy herd management systems, and fresh cow clinical conditions associated with ketosis in western European dairy herds. J Dairy Sci 97 (4), 2145-2154 PubMed.
• Tsujita H & Plummer C E (2010) Bovine ocular squamous cell carcinoma. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract 26 (3), 511-529 PubMed.
• McConnel C S, Shum L & House J K (2007) Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis antimicrobial therapy. Aus Vet Assoc 85 (1 &2), 65-69.
• McConnel C S & House J K (2005) Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis vaccine development. Aus Vet Assoc 83 (8), 506-510 PubMed.
• Pavesio C E & Lightman S (1996) Toxoplasma gondii and ocular toxoplasmosis: pathogenesis. Br J Opthal 80 (12), 1099.
• Bertric S J, Grummer R R, Cadorniga-valino C & Stoddard E E (1992) Effect of prepartum dry  matter intake on liver triglyceride concentration and early lactation. J Dairy Sci 75, 1914-1922 PubMed.
• Van der Lugt J J (1989) The pathology of blindness in new-born calves caused by hypovitaminosis A PubMed.
• Foster L A (1988) Clinical ketosis. Vet clin north am food anim pract 4, 253-265.
• Kennedy M J & Moraiko D (1987) The eyeworm, Thelazia skrjabini, in cattle in Canada. Can Vet J 28 (5), 254 PubMed.
• Leipold H W, Mills J H L & Huston K (1974) Retinal Dysplasia and Internal Hydrocephalus in a Shorthorn Calf. Can Vet J 15 (2) PubMed.
• Barnett K C, Palmer A C, Abrams J T, Bridge S, Spratling F R & Sharman I M (1970) Ocular Changes Associated with Hypovitaminosis a in Cattle. Br Vet J 126 (11), 561-573 PubMed.

Other sources of information

• Whitlock B K (2010) Heritable birth defects of cattle. In: Applied reproductive strategies conference proceedings. Nashville, T N. pp.146-153.
• Parkinson T J, Vermunt J J & Malmo J (2010) Diseases of cattle in Australasia: a comprehensive textbook. In: New Zealand veterinary association foundation for continuing education. Wellington, N Z.
• Radostits O M, Gay C C, Blood D C & Hinchliff K W (2006) Veterinary medicine. In: A textbook of the diseases of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and horses. 7th edn. Saunders, China.
• Smith B P (2009) Large animal internal medicine. 4th edn. Mosby-Elsevier Publishing. USA.