Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Calcific band keratopathy causing cloudy eyes in an alpaca
By Pucket, Jonathan D et al.·Published in Veterinary ophthalmology·2014·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Calcific band keratopathy in an alpaca.
Plain-English summary
A 4-year-old female Suri alpaca was brought in because she was weak, lethargic, and had developed cloudy spots in both eyes. The vet found that these cloudy areas were located in a specific part of the cornea and had some blood vessels nearby, leading to a diagnosis of calcific band keratopathy, a condition where calcium builds up in the eye. Unfortunately, the alpaca was euthanized shortly after the diagnosis for reasons unrelated to her eye condition. A closer examination of her eyes confirmed the diagnosis.
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Abstract
A 4-year-old female Suri alpaca was presented for evaluation of acute onset weakness, lethargy, and recent development of opacities in both eyes. On ophthalmic examination, bilaterally symmetrical corneal opacities were noted along the interpalpebral fissures with a few corneal blood vessels intermingled. A presumed diagnosis of calcific band keratopathy was made based on location and appearance. The patient was euthanized a short while after diagnosis due to reasons unrelated to the eyes and histologic examination of the corneas revealed subepithelial calcium and vascularization, consistent with calcific band keratopathy. This case report is the first to document this ocular condition in an alpaca.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23998709/