Cornea (1) Flashcards

1
Q

How many layers are there to the cornea?

A
Depends; if not counting tear film, 4
Epithelium
Stroma
Descemet's membrane
Endothelium
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2
Q

Epithelium characteristics

A

5-7 layers
Hydrophobic/lipophilic barrier to drugs and fluorescein
Regular turnover

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3
Q

Stroma characteristics

A

75% water, 25% collagen
Regular (parallel) arrangement of collagen fibers
Hydrophilic/lipophobic
keratocytes

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4
Q

Descemet’s Membrane characteristics

A

BM of endothelium

Thickens with age

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5
Q

Endothelium characteristics

A

Dehydrate stroma by pumping mechanism
Monolayer of cells
Non-regenerative

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6
Q

Functions of the cornea

A

Anterior structure for globe
Protection of interior structures from injury/infection
Clear medium for vision
Refraction

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7
Q

Keepingthe cornea transparent

A
Avascular
No pigment
Non-keratinized epithelium
Precise arrangement of collagen fibers
Relatively dehydrated
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8
Q

Corneal innervation

A
CN V (trigeminal)
More nerve endings in epithelium/superficial cornea
Decreased sensitivity can affect healing
- Brachycephalics
- Sick foals
- Diabetics
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9
Q

Axonal Reflex

A

Any stimulation of corneal nerves = reflex stimulation of the CN V nerve branches to anterior uveal tract
All keratitis creates some degree of reflex uveitis
Corneal ulcer = stimulation of CN V = reflex uveitis with painful ciliary body muscle spasm
- Can relieve with cycloplegic drug such as atropine
More severe the keratitis = more severe the uveitis

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10
Q

Epithelial loss alone heals by epithelial proliferation

A

Fact

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11
Q

Things to remember about corneal wound healing

A

Corneal blood vessels move at ~1mm/d
WBC move in the cornea at 8.6mm/d
Epithelial cells move at ~.6mm/d
Epithelial cells may take up to 6 wk to adhere to BM

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12
Q

Corneal disease states

A

Loss of corneal thickness

Loss of transparency

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13
Q

Define corneal ulcer

A

Scratch, wound, or defect of the cornea in which there is a loss of variable amounts of corneal tissue
Most common presenting ophthalmic condition

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14
Q

Corneal ulcer categories

A
Depth
- Superficial
- Stromal
- Desmetocele
- Full-thickness - iris prolapse
Etiology
- Traumatic
- Infectious
 . Bacterial
 . Fungal
- Immune-mediated
Response to therapy
- Simple
- Complicated
 . Indolent
 . Melting
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15
Q

Simple ulcer criteria

A

Superficial
No infection
Heals in an appropriate amount of time (a week)
No complicating factors

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16
Q

How can one tell if an ulcer is infected?

A
Presence of cellular infiltrate
Melting
Degree of uveitis
Delayed healing
Positive cytology or culture
17
Q

What are complicating factors leading to delayed healing of the cornea?

A
Entropion
KCS (dry eye)
Eyelid tumors
Lagophthalmos
Ectopic cilia
Trigeminal neuropathy
Systemic disease (Cushing's, DM)
Distichiasis
18
Q

Define desmetoceles

A

Epithelium and stroma lost; DM only remains
Very thin
DM will bulge into trough dt pressure from AqH

19
Q

Iris prolapse

A

DM has ruptured, leaving hole in cornea open to outside

Iris passively follows AqH and often plugs hole

20
Q

Melting cornea

A

Proteases - degredation of collagen
MMPs, serine proteases (NE)
Gelatinous appearance
Can happen within 24h

21
Q

Corneal ulcer CS

A
Blepharospasm
Epiphora
Serous to micropurulent discharge
Miosis d/t reflex uveitis
Corneal edema
Corneal vascularization
22
Q

Management of corneal ulcers

A
Rule infection in or out
- C&S (48h)
- Cytology
Rule out KCS
- Schirmer tear test
Stain with fluorescein
- Depth of lesion
- Epithelialization
- Stain every eye with signs of pain
23
Q

Surface properties

A

Fluorescein sodium - hydrophilic
Epithelium - hydrophobic
Stroma - hydrophilic
Descemet’s membrane - hydrophobic

24
Q

Therapy for corneal ulcers

A
Depends on: etiology, infection, depth, melting, extent of uveitis
Goals:
- Slow collagen breakdown
- Sterilize the wound bed
- Control the secondary anterior uveitis
- Provide structural support
25
Q

T/F: During treatment, you are not actually making the ulcer heal

A

True

26
Q

Medical therapy for corneal ulcers

A
Reduce tear protease activity
Topical antimicrobials: C&S guides selection
- SA: mostly Abx
- Horses: Abx and antifungals
Treat reflex uveitis
Provide analgesia
Prevent self-trauma
Treat etiology
27
Q

Simple ulcer medical therapy

A
Broad-spectrum topical abx TID-QID until healed
- Prevent infection
- Broad spectrum, non-epitheliotoxic
- Neomycin, Polymyxin B, Bacitracin, Ofloxacin, Gentamicin
Treat reflex uveitis
- Topical atropine 1%
- Oral NSAID (5d)
Analgesia
Anti-protease
Prevent self-trauma

NO TOPICAL STEROIDS OR NSAIDS

28
Q

Complicated ulcer medical therapy

A
Anti-protease (q1-6h)
- Serum, plasma, EDTA, NAC, Tetracyclines
Antimicrobials
- Based on culture/cytology - q2-4h
- Abx
- Antifungals
Treat reflex uveitis
- Topical atropine 1% solution BID-QID
- Oral NSAIDs
Provide analgesia
Consider surgical stabilization
29
Q

Topical anti-collagenase/protease q1-6h

A

Autologous serum
- Red top tube, let clot, spin down, draw off serum
- Fill 1cc syringes to dispense to client
- Replace q7d, must stay in fridge
EDTA sol’n
- Fill half a purple top tube with sterile water
- Can dispense in dropper bottle for ease of administration
N-acetylcysteine (5%)
- 5mL 20% Mucomyst in 15mL artificial tears
Tetracycline
- Terramycin ointment
- Doxycycline 5mg/kg PO q12h

30
Q

Topical Abx

A

Gr+: Cefazolin 55mg/mL / Ciprofloxacin
Gr -: Tobramycin/ Ciprofloxacin
Always give broad spectrum coverage
Remember: all Abx are toxic to epithelial cells

31
Q

Least to most toxic topical Abx

A
Chloramphenicol
Tobramycin
Neopolygram
Gentamicin
Cefazolin
Ciprofloxacin
32
Q

Treat reflex uveitis

A

Regardless of initial cause, all ulcers associated with some iridocyclitis

  • Topical atropine 1%
  • Systemic NSAIDs
33
Q

Surgical therapy of corneal ulcers

A

Surgical grafting procedure (synthetic, corneal, conjunctival)

  • Stromal loss >50% of corneal thickness
  • Corneal perforation
34
Q

Surgical procedures

A

Conjunctival grafts
Biological graft
Corneal transplant
Corneoconjunctival transposition

35
Q

Evaluation of iris prolapse

A
Potential to see
- Menace
- Dazzle
- PLR
- Fundic exam
Sealed perforation
- Formed anterior chamber
- Leaking aqueous humor
36
Q

Treatment of iris prolapse

A
Add oral broad spec Abx
- Clavamox 13.25mg/kg PO q12h
Strongly consider surgical repair
No ointments (granulomatous uveitis)
No topical atropine (let iris plug hole)
Counsel owners on risk of vision loss from retinal detachment or endophthalmitis