Association between preoperative gonioscopic status and postoperative glaucoma after phacoemulsification in dogs: A retrospective cohort study of 505 eyes.

OBJECTIVE: To assess whether preoperative gonioscopy status is associated with the development of postoperative glaucoma after phacoemulsification. PROCEDURE: Eligible dogs and eyes were selected from medical records (2007-2017), and each eye was classified as having normal or abnormal gonioscopy status. Records were examined for postoperative glaucoma, and data were collected for baseline variables including patient signalment, surgical factors, and pre, intra, and postoperative medications. RESULTS: Of 305 dogs (505 eyes) selected for review in this study, 111 dogs (163 eyes) had abnormal gonioscopy findings, and 194 dogs (342 eyes) had normal gonioscopy findings. Postoperative glaucoma occurred in 24% (39/163) of eyes with abnormal gonioscopy and in 14% (49/342) eyes with normal gonioscopy. Eyes with abnormal gonioscopy status were at higher risk of postoperative glaucoma compared to normal eyes (P = .025). There was no important confounding due to the numerous baseline variables summarised above. Regardless of gonioscopy status, the risk of glaucoma was highest during the first 2 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Eyes with abnormal gonioscopy findings are at increased risk of postoperative glaucoma compared with eyes with normal gonioscopy findings. Gonioscopy is recommended as a part of presurgical assessment in all dogs prior to phacoemulsification. Further study is needed to assess whether the incidence of postoperative glaucoma can be reduced by increased monitoring or altered treatment protocols in cases that are known to have abnormal gonioscopy findings prior to cataract surgery.

Surgical management and outcome of lower eyelid entropion in 124 cats.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the success rate of various surgical techniques for the management of lower eyelid entropion in cats. DESIGN: Retrospective study. Animals studied One hundred and twenty-four cats with surgical correction of lower eyelid entropion of 200 eyes over a 13 year period. METHODS: Records of 124 cats were reviewed for signalment, type of entropion, surgical procedure performed and post-operative result. RESULTS: Combinations of the Hotz-Celsus (HC), lateral canthal closure and full thickness wedge resection techniques were used to treat 64 bilateral and 60 unilateral cases of lower lid entropion. Twenty-three cats were under a year of age, 52 cats were aged between 2 and 8 years and 49 were over 8 years old. The overall success rate for a single surgical procedure (which may consist of multiple techniques) to correct lower eyelid entropion was 96.0% per eye. The remaining 4.0% had the entropion resolved with a second surgery. A combined HC and lateral canthal closure had a 99.21% success rate of resolving lower lid entropion. Geriatric cats were the most likely age group to develop corneal sequestra; 37% of cats in this group presented with entropion and corneal sequestra concurrently. Seventeen percent of cats that presented with unilateral entropion and did not have prophylactic surgery on the fellow eye went on to develop entropion in the fellow eye. CONCLUSIONS: A combined HC and lateral canthal closure was the most effective surgical technique in managing lower eyelid entropion of cats in our study. Prophylactic lateral canthal closure in the unaffected eye is recommended.

Schirmer tear tests and intraocular pressures in conscious and anesthetized koalas (Phascolarctus cinereus).

OBJECTIVE: To estimate mean Schirmer tear test (STT) and intraocular pressure (IOP) values in healthy koalas both conscious and anesthetized. METHODS: Data were gathered from koalas in Victoria, Australia. Conscious examinations were performed on captive koalas. Free-ranging (wild) koalas were examined under anesthesia. Anesthesia was induced using alfaxalone, and animals were maintained on oxygen and isoflurane if required. All animals were healthy and had no surface ocular pathology detectable during slit lamp biomicroscopy. STT I tests were performed using commercial STT test strips placed in the lower fornix for 1 min. IOP was measured using an applanation tonometer after topical anesthesia. The higher value of the two eyes for both STT and IOP was analyzed. STT was measured in 53 koalas (34 conscious, 19 anesthetized) and IOP was measured in 43 koalas (30 conscious, 13 anesthetized). A two-sample t-test was used to compare means. A P-value <0.05 was regarded as significant. Mean ± SD is presented. RESULTS: The mean higher STT in conscious koalas was 10.3 ± 3.6 mm wetting/min and in anesthetized koalas it decreased to 3.8 ± 4.0 mm wetting/min (P < 0.0001). The mean higher IOP in conscious koalas was 15.3 ± 5.1 mmHg, and in anesthetized koalas it was 13.8 ± 3.4 mmHg (P = 0.32). There was no effect of sex on either STT or IOP. CONCLUSIONS: The mean and SD of STT and IOP values for koalas both conscious and anesthetized were reported. The mean STT was significantly reduced by alfaxalone anesthesia.

Repair of a scleral defect with an autogenous fascia lata graft in a dog.

A case of a traumatic scleral rupture with uveal herniation in a dog was treated with an autogenous fascia lata graft. Placement of the graft resolved the uveal prolapse and resulted in return of strength and a more normal structure. Fascia lata appears to be an effective scaffolding graft for the repair of scleral defects. It is cheap, easily harvested and large grafts may be obtained. Healing was rapid and the end result was a cosmetic, comfortable, fully functional eye.

Keratomycosis in a dog treated with topical 1% voriconazole solution.

A 2-year-old Jack Russell Terrier was presented for treatment of a worsening corneal ulcer and keratomalacia following removal of a vegetative foreign body. The keratomalacia responded to topical gentamicin therapy; however, the eye became suddenly painful and at examination two areas of increased opacity had developed. Fungal keratitis was demonstrated by corneal scrape showing branching, septate fungal hyphae. Treatment with 1% voriconazole was effective in resolving the keratomycosis.

Variation in intraocular pressure following application of tropicamide in three different dog breeds.

OBJECTIVE: To record intraocular pressure (IOP) of three different dog breeds following administration of one drop of 1% tropicamide. ANIMALS: Three dog breeds -- Golden Retrievers (n = 20), Siberian Huskies (n = 20) and English Cocker Spaniels (n = 36) -- were studied. PROCEDURE: IOPs were measured using a Tonopen following corneal anesthesia with a single drop of 0.5% proxymetacaine. A drop of 0.5% tropicamide was then administered bilaterally and a second IOP measurement was taken 30 min later (postdilation). The difference between the two measurements was considered as the effect of mydriasis on IOP. RESULTS: Dogs had an average IOP of 14.9 +/- 3.2 mmHg, with 95% confidence limits ranging from 8 to 22 mmHg. There were significant differences between breeds (P < 0.006) with Siberian Huskies having higher IOPs (17.2 +/- 3.7 mmHg) than the other breeds (Spaniels: 14.2 +/- 2.8 mmHg, P < 0.01; Retrievers: 14 +/- 1.9 mmHg, P < 0.001). The majority (60%) of dogs displayed 5 mmHg or less in IOP change postmydriasis. Siberian Huskies showed the highest IOP levels, and also had the greatest variability with dilation. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Interbreed variability in effect of tropicamide of canine IOP is evident.

Pigmented squamous cell carcinoma of the conjunctiva of a horse.

Abstract A heavily pigmented tumor was removed from the lateral, perilimbal, bulbar conjunctiva of a bay Thoroughbred horse. Excision was incomplete and the base of the tumor was lasered on the assumption that the tumor was a melanoma. No other ophthalmic lesions were seen. Histology showed the mass to be a pigmented squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The prognosis and recommended treatment protocols are different for SCC and melanoma. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first report of an ocular, pigmented SCC in the veterinary literature.

Day-blindness in three dogs: clinical and electroretinographic findings.

A 6-month-old Rhodesian ridgeback-cross, a 6-year-old Chihuahua and a 12-month-old Australian cattle dog were presented to the authors with a history of colliding with obstacles in daylight. Ophthalmic examination was normal and all three dogs successfully negotiated obstacle courses in dim light. In daylight the dogs became suddenly blind and repeatedly collided with obstacles. Elecroretinography (ERG) revealed no retinal activity to high frequency (30 Hz), bright intensity blue light retinal stimulation by any dog, confirming cone dysfunction. Achromatopsia has previously been recorded in Alaskan malamutes and miniature poodles. This clinical case series illustrates the characteristic behavioral presentation and the electroretinographic findings of severe day-blindness and demonstrates that this condition may exist in other breeds of dogs.

Marsupial ophthalmology.

This article discusses ocular conditions found in marsupials. Marsupials are unique models for developmental biology because of their immature state of development at birth. There is considerable variation in the ocular evolution of marsupials, largely in response to their unique diversification. Many marsupials and their eyes have been studied.