Corneal ulcer in a sheep - treatment with third eyelid flap

ABSTRACT

Background: Corneal ulcers are frequently reported in the literature in several species, however, the treatment of traumaticlesions on the corneal surface of ruminants is still poorly described. The use of the third eyelid flap is questioned whenapplied to deep ulcers, since the technique prevents the evolutionary follow-up of corneal healing and compromises care.However, several authors report its successful use for the treatment of superficial and deep corneal ulcers. This techniqueprotects the ocular surface and prevents the occurrence of new lesions or their aggravation. The aim of this study was toreport the treatment of corneal ulcers in sheep through the third eyelid flap associated with the use of topical antibiotics.Case A 2-year-old male Dorper sheep, with ocular discomfort, conjunctival hyperemia and mucopurulent secretion in theleft eye, was assisted in a private rural property in the West region of Bahia, Brazil. The owner reported that before seeking veterinary help he used a spray based on oxytetracycline and hydrocortisone, which worsened the animal’s condition.Upon inspection, it was observed eyelid asymmetry, slight lateralization of the head to the left, periorbital alopecia onthe left face, intense blepharospasm in the left eye, with projection of the third eyelid occurring at times. The ophthalmicexamination was performed after application of anesthetic eye drops based on proxymetacaine to reduce eye discomfort.A corneal stromal lesion, edema and fibrovascular tissue in the left eye were identified, but the cause of the lesion was notdefined, with lagophthalmia, entropion, dystychiasis or ectopic cilia being ruled out. So, it was suggested that the lesionhad occurred by a foreign body, such as dust...