Opaque eye 1 &2 Flashcards
What are a major location of ocular opacities?
corneal (lens opacification accounts for almost all the rest)
What is a very important disease of the cornea?
ulcerative keratitis
Name other causes of ocular opacities (other than corneal and lens)
hyphema,
hypopion,
fibrin in AC
vitreal opacities (blood, cells) - uveitis, hypertension
Describe corneal cell basal cells
= transient amplifying cells (TACs)
- capable of mitosis
- TACs come from SCs that reside in limbus
- barrier to FB and tears (i.e. stopping stroma swelling)
What are wing cells?
second layer of epithelium of cornea
- no longer mitotic
- 2-4 layers
What is squamous non-keratinised epithelium for in healing?
slough off with blinking
replenished by cells from below
What are the different types of movement that occur in epithelial wound healing?
sliding
vertical
centripetal
When does sliding movement occur in wound healing?
Abrasion = superficial epithelial lesion that doesn’t reach basal lamina. Happens quickly
Describe vertical movement in wound healing
first, epithelial cell sliding then basal cell mitosis from down up deals with daily loss of cells takes 1 week for a cycle helps to regain the thickness of the layer
Describe centripetal movement in wound healing
from limbus towards center. Affects every layer. For larger epithelial defects. Significance is that pigment proliferation associated with irritation and as part of a scar in corneal disease can migrate centrally, over the pupil
Which dog breeds in particular have a very pigmented limbus? 2
pugs and GSDs
What is healing by sliding?
movement of approximately 1-2mm/day. depends on various factors. limbal SCs act as a barrier to conjunctival overgrowth, conjunctivalisation
What does healing by sliding depend on?
- corneal health
- existence of basal lamina SCs
- existence of a basal lamina (for SCs to adhere to)
- effects of species and age
Why is there superficial pigment deposition with epithelial wound healiong?
Theory - irritants activate melanin production (at lumbus and paralimbal conjunctiva). Pigment deposited in new migrating epithelial cells (centripetal movement over pupil). Severe sometimes - pugs. Other theories too
What is the vascularisation phase of epithelial wound healing?
- angiogenic factors not well understood
- stimulus is inflammation
- vessels can coalesce –> GT
- atrophy over time (once stimulus removed)
- superficial or deep (i.e. stromal) - may aid dx
- travels to the area in need
Name 3 factors aiding epithelial vascularisation in wound healing
stabilising serum
nutrients, growth factors and inflammatory cells
structural support for reconstruction/ remodelling
What does epithelial vascularisation indicate?
- chronicity
- lag time of 2-4 days to bud
- then 1mm/2 days
Describe the composition of the corneal stroma
Collagen 1 fibrils arranged in lamellae which travel from limbus to limbus (periodicity of 620A - transparency), united and ordered by GAGs - transparency. Relative state of dehydration: deturgescence - transparency
Define deturgescence
The mechanism by which the stroma of the cornea remains relatively dehydrated.
Describe keratinocytes in stroma wound healing
- relatively inactive fibrocytes
- low numbers (transparent)
- contribute to lamellar creation and maintenance
- differentiate into fibroblasts and myofibroblasts
- subset are myofibrocytes with pseudopodia with alpha-sm-actin
- cell movement
Outline the chemical interaction moments after injury in the stroma
many different factors (e.g. collagenases and metalloproteases) produced by lacrimal glands, epithelial cells, stromal keratocytes, corneal nerves, leukocytes attracted to wound.
Describe cellular changes in the stroma after injury
- Cellular attraction –> destruction and clean up (monocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, TCs)
- Keratocyte-mediated build up (collagen fibrils and interconnections, IC matrix GAGs but not of correct quantities or types, spatial distribution of fibrils is incorrect at first)
- these 2 factors need to BALANCE otherwise problems
How does a scar form in the stroma?
GAGs not of correct quantities or types and spatial distribution of fibrils is incorrect at first.
What does a stromal defect have to be filled with?
stroma
How long does stroma wound healing take?
weeks-months. Depends on injury thus how much remodelling after reconstruction is required.
Which GAGs form in stroma?
Initially hyaluronic acid after injury, its concentration then decreases as other glycoprotein concentrations increase. Ultimately GAG and collagen types similar to original. Fibrillar organisation ensures transparency.
Which animals are better at stroma regeneration?
Cats > dogs
Young > old
What re-establishes corneal curvature?
epithelium via epithelial hyperplasia but initially fascets form (i.e. flat areas) and may remain for life.
Describe normal endothelium of cornea
- One cell layer, very sensitive cells and the hexagonal cells form a chicken wire pattern. Important because contains intercellular Na/K ATPase pumps in between endothelial cells which pump fluid back into AC.
- Natural barrier between cells (strong IC junctions, epithelial layer too)
Describe wound healing of endothelium
- Limit to amount of repair (50% cells in this layer exist by time a dog is adult)
- Polimegathism and pleo/polymorphism occur
What is the point of decompensation of endothelial repair?
- Normally 3000 cells/mm2 (dogs)
- Point for decompensation - variable - usually 800-500 cells/mm2. From this point onward in corneal oedema
Outline how corneal oedema may occur as a result of al repair
Damage –> limit to repair –> point of decompensation reached –> corneal oedema
What is the corneal endothelium sensitive to?
Intraocular dz - uveitis, glaucoma
drugs
contact (e.g. anterior lens luxation touching endothelium, sx instruments)
What is Primary Endothelial Degeneration?
A degenerative process, uncommon
- hunting breeds especially
- -> corneal oedema –> blind
What are the main points to consider when dealing with an opaque eye in practice? 2
- superficial/ deep?
- does tissue KNOW it is ulcerated? (cell to cell communication, corneal sensitisation - desensitisation and brachycephalic factor
Why isn’t cornea often affected by systemic dz?
Cornea has no BVs. But still possible.
Outline re-epithelialisation repair
- fast if stroma healthy
- growth rapid is no dz stops it
- reanchoring to secure epithelium takes months
Outline stromal reconstruction repair
- starts immediately
- takes longer to complete (vs. re-epithelialisation)
- if unstable –> melting/collagenolysis due to excessive inflammation (continued irritation, secondary infxn, once melting starts v difficult to control).
If an opaque eye isn’t healing with your tx plan, what should you consider?
- tear film problem (quantitative or qualitative
- eyelid and TE faults or problems blinking
- repair process (brachycephalic effect, secondary infxn, melting)
- EXCEPTIONS are primary corneal problems but these are rare.
3 possible reasons why an opaque eye wound is taking too long to heal
- lack of re-epithelialisation
- stromal wound deepening
- stroma is devitalising (melting)
- ACT - something wrong
What should you do if an opaque eye is taking too long to heal?
1 check if you missed something
2 changing topical AB isn’t always answer