moon blindness: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Veterinary
Quick answer
What does “moon blindness” mean?
A chronic, recurring inflammation of the eye in horses, causing periodic episodes of vision impairment or blindness, often associated with the moon's cycles.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A chronic, recurring inflammation of the eye in horses, causing periodic episodes of vision impairment or blindness, often associated with the moon's cycles.
In general medical contexts, sometimes used historically for night blindness (nyctalopia), but this is now obsolete. The primary modern usage is veterinary.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Identical in meaning. Slight preference for the term 'equine recurrent uveitis' in formal veterinary contexts in both regions.
Connotations
Same connotations: an old-fashioned, folk-etymology term for a serious veterinary condition.
Frequency
Equally low frequency and specialized in both dialects. Used primarily among horse owners, trainers, and veterinarians.
Grammar
How to Use “moon blindness” in a Sentence
The horse has moon blindness.They are treating a case of moon blindness.Moon blindness is a serious concern for owners.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “moon blindness” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The vet explained that the gelding might moon-blind periodically.
- Has the pony ever moon-blinded before?
American English
- The horse moon-blinded again last week.
- We fear the mare will moon-blind this season.
adjective
British English
- The moon-blind stallion requires careful management.
- It's a classic moon-blindness case.
American English
- They own a moon-blind horse.
- The moon-blind condition has worsened.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in insurance policies for livestock or veterinary service descriptions.
Academic
Used in veterinary medicine and equine science, often alongside the modern clinical term.
Everyday
Very rare outside communities involved with horse care.
Technical
Primary context. Standard term in equine veterinary medicine, though 'ERU' is increasingly preferred.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “moon blindness”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “moon blindness”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “moon blindness”
- Using it to mean human night blindness. Confusing it with conjunctivitis or cataracts in animals. Assuming it is caused by moonlight.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The name is a historical misnomer. It refers to the periodic recurrence of symptoms, which people once superstitiously linked to lunar cycles.
No. It is a specific equine disease. The term was sometimes used historically for human night blindness (nyctalopia), but this usage is obsolete.
The modern veterinary term is Equine Recurrent Uveitis (ERU).
There is no absolute cure, but it can be managed with anti-inflammatory medication and sometimes surgery to reduce pain and slow vision loss.
A chronic, recurring inflammation of the eye in horses, causing periodic episodes of vision impairment or blindness, often associated with the moon's cycles.
Moon blindness is usually technical/veterinary in register.
Moon blindness: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmuːn ˌblaɪnd.nəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmuːn ˌblaɪnd.nəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. It is a technical term, not an idiom.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a horse looking at the full MOON, but going BLIND every time it appears—this recalls the periodic, recurring nature of the condition.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MOON IS A CYCLE (of disease). The recurring inflammation is metaphorically linked to the cyclical phases of the moon.
Practice
Quiz
What is 'moon blindness' primarily associated with?