![]() The lacrimal apparatus produces tears, providing nutrition and moisture to the eye, as well as helping to remove any debris that may have entered. It lies on the inside corner of the eye, and closes diagonally over it. Unlike humans, horses also have a third eyelid ( nictitating membrane) to protect the cornea. The upper eyelid is larger and can move more than the lower lid. The opening between the two lids forms the palpebral tissue. The eyelids are made up of three layers of tissue: a thin layer of skin, which is covered in hair, a layer of muscles which allow the lid to open and close, and the palpebral conjunctiva, which lies against the eyeball. The adnexa of the eye, including the third eyelid (seen in the left corner) Horses are capable of having dichromatic (differently-colored) eyes.Īs in humans, much of the genetics and etiology behind eye color are not yet fully understood. The eyes of horses with the Champagne gene are typically greenish shades: aqua at birth, darkening to hazel with maturity. ![]() Heterozygous or single-dilute creams, such as palominos and buckskins, often have light brown eyes. Homozygous cream dilutes, sometimes called double-dilutes, always have light blue eyes to match their pale, cream-colored coats. In the case of horses with white markings, one or both eyes may be blue, or part-blue. The white spotting patterns most often linked to blue eyes are splashed white, frame overo, and sometimes sabino. Blue eyes are not uncommon and are associated with white markings or patterns. Homozygous cream dilutes ("double-dilutes") have pale blue eyes, while the blue eyes associated with white markings (bottom) are a clearer, deeper color.Īlthough usually dark brown, the iris may be a variety of colors, including blue, hazel, amber, and green. The lens is made up of onion-like layers of tissue. The lens of the eye lies posterior to the iris, and is held suspended by the ciliary suspensory ligament and the ciliary muscle, which allows for "accommodation" of the eye: it allows the lens to change shape to focus on different objects. ![]() The cornea (clear covering on the front of the eye) is made up of connective tissue and bathed in lacrimal fluid and aqueous humor, which provides it nutrition, as it does not have access to blood vessels. The sclera (white of the eye) is made up of elastin and collagen.
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