moon-blind

A horse with moon-blind stands still in the stable at dusk.

Definition

Adjective: 1. Affected with moon blindness: "moon-blind" describes a condition, especially in horses, characterized by recurrent inflammation of the eyes (equine recurrent uveitis), often leading to impaired vision or blindness. 2. Suffering from nyctalopia: In a broader or older sense, "moon-blind" can refer to a person or animal that has difficulty seeing in dim light or at night (night blindness), though this usage is less common.

Usage Examples

• (The horse has equine recurrent uveitis, causing periodic eye problems.)
• (A person with poor night vision, unable to see clearly under moonlight.)

Advanced Usage

• "moon-blindness" (noun): The condition itself.
  • Moon-blindness is a serious concern for horse owners, as it can lead to permanent vision loss. (The disease equine recurrent uveitis is a chronic threat to equine health.)

Variants and Related Words

• Moon blindness (noun): The medical condition of recurrent uveitis in horses.
  • Research into moon blindness has improved treatments for affected animals. (Scientific study of equine recurrent uveitis.)

Synonyms

• Night-blind: unable to see well in low light (for nyctalopia).
• Uveitic: relating to inflammation of the uvea of the eye (specifically for the equine condition).

Related Idioms

• "moon-blind as a bat": A colloquial expression (though bats are not actually blind) used to emphasize severe night blindness.
  • Without his glasses, he was as moon-blind as a bat in the evening. (He could barely see in dim light.)