Comparison of hyaluronic acid-containing topical eye drops with carbomer-based topical ocular gel as a tear replacement in canine keratoconjunctivitis sicca: A prospective study in twenty five dogs.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a hyaluronic acid containing eye drop in ameliorating ocular surface pathology and discomfort in canine keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). Twenty five dogs with KCS treated with a topical carbomer (CA)-based tear replacement gel were moved to treatment with a hyaluronic acid (HA)-containing tear replacement eye drop. Dogs were subject to a full ophthalmic examination at the beginning of the study and after two and four weeks of treatment, Schirmer tear tests (STTs) were performed at each examination. Conjunctival hyperemia, ocular discharge and ocular irritation were evaluated and scored on a 0-3 semi-quantitative scale. Values were compared before and after 4 weeks of treatment using a paired t-test. Evaluation scores were compared using the Wilcoxon signed rank test. The transfer from CA-based to HA-containing tear replacement significantly decreased the conjunctival hyperemia score from 2.12 ± 0.73 to 1.26 ± 0.59 and ocular discomfort was lowered from 2.11 ± 0.97 to 0.93 ± 0.75. Ocular discharge was reduced from a score of 1.04 ± 0.82 to 0.70 ± 0.53, however, the decrease did not reach statistical significance. Schirmer tear test was increased with statistical significance (p < 0.001) but given that the increase was only from 5.42 ± 3.50 to 6.19 ± 3.86 mm min(-1); this was not considered clinically significant. This study demonstrated that HA-containing eye drops used twice daily in dogs with KCS had greater ameliorative effects on ocular surface health and discomfort than did CA-based topical gels used as or more frequently.

Everted third eyelid cartilage in a cat: a case report and literature review.

An 8-year-old neutered female British Blue cat was presented with a presumed diagnosis of a prolapsed nictitans gland and associated ocular irritation and epiphora. However, during surgery, the apparent nictitans gland protrusion was determined to be an everted cartilage of the nictitating membrane. The scrolled portion of the cartilage was removed through an incision through the conjunctiva on the bulbar aspect of the third eyelid, as previously described in the dog. This operation resolved the ocular irritation occurring, and the third eyelid returned to its anatomically correct position.

Porcine ophthalmology.

Although there appears to have been an increase in literature about the anatomy and physiology of the pig eye because of an expansion in its use as a model for research, there has been little written about the development of veterinary medicine in the area. Pig eyes share many similarities with human eyes, having a holangiotic retinal vasculature, no tapetum, cone photoreceptors in the outer retina, and a similar scleral thickness, rendering them valuable in comparative research. It must not be forgotten, however, that pigs are intelligent sentient animals which use vision as an important sense. Thus, diseases such as congenital cataracts, which impede vision, are important from the perspective of pig welfare. In addition, ocular lesions in this species, as with many others, can be a significant sign of systemic disease.