Disorders of the Cornea Flashcards
T/F: the corneal epithelium is hydrophilic
false – hydrophobic
T/F: the cornea should be clear
true – there are no blood vessels and the tissue is arranged in a manner so that light can freely pass through.
what is the function of the corneal endothelium?
dehydrate the cornea
what are the 5 potential etiologies of ulcerative keratitis?
- trauma
- foreign body
- exposure/paralytic keratitis
- equine herpes virus (uncommon)
- KCS (very rare)
what contributes to the progression of a complicated corneal ulcer?
In normal corneal healing, the epithelial cells undergo mitosis and heal within 3-5 days.
However, if bacteria gain entry into the epithelial defect, this can lead to further tissue destruction and healing becomes unachievable.
what are the 3 categories of corneal ulcers?
- superficial
- stromal (superficial, mid, or deep-stromal)
- desmetocoele
what is the MOST important diagnostic among the few you can do to diagnose a corneal ulcer?
Look for an underlying cause!!!
other diagnostics that are indicated sometimes: stain the eye (to confirm presence), cytology, culture
T/F: An eyelid block is not required for diagnosing a corneal ulcer
false – its required because you need to investigate the cause of the ulcer and the horse isnt going to hold the eye open.
what is the MOST common cause of complicated corneal ulcers?
Secondary infection (bacterial or fungal)
remember: the bacteria dont cause the ulcer, they invade afterwards and make things worse.
If you are examining a horse with a corneal ulcer and you swab some white gooey material off of the cornea, what is this material most likely?
lytic corneal stromal collagen.
This is indicative of a melting ulcer. The corneal stroma gets degraded by organisms or inflammatory cells.
What clinical finding is indicative of keratomycosis (fungal infection)?
A clear zone at the periphery of a deep stromal ulcer.
What are the 4 goals of therapy for corneal ulcers?
- control or prevent corneal infection (through use of antibiotics)
- inhibit corneal proteolysis (melting)
- manage any secondary uveitis
- increase patient comfort
If you were prescribing a patient with a corneal ulcer topical antibiotics or antifungals, what would be your recommendations for how often/long they should administer them?
UNTIL HEALED (you’ll need to stain the eye to check for healing)
usually they are administered TID, but it will depend on the severity of the ulcer present.
What can you prescribe a horse with ulcerative keratitis for pain?
- Topical atropine (cycloplegic agent)
- systemic NSAIDs
What are a few anti-proteases that you may be inclined to prescribe for a horse with ulcerative keratitis and there is concern for progression towards melting ulcer?
- topical autologous serum
- topical N-acetylcysteine
- topical or systemic tetracyclines (doxy or mino)
What are indications for surgical management of ulcerative keratitis in horses?
- deep ulcers
- fungal ulcers
T/F: desmetoceles can be managed medically
false – they require surgical treatment.