Calcium deposits on cat corneas after ulcers in 8 cases

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To describe the history, clinical presentation, and diagnostic and therapeutic management of presumed calcium corneal deposits in eight cats. ANIMAL STUDIED: Between 2013 and 2022, eight cats presented to our ophthalmology service with corneal plaques, following prior management of corneal ulceration. PROCEDURES: Complete ophthalmic examinations were performed on all cats. Additional tests included complete blood count, serum biochemistry (including ionized calcium), bacterial and fungal cultures of corneal samples, and histopathological (hematoxylin-eosin-saffron and Von Kossa staining) examinations of lesions. RESULTS: All cats had similar opacities: an axial anterior stromal opaque corneal plaque of acute onset, following a previous episode of corneal ulceration. Seven cats had at least one comorbidity: chronic kidney disease (4/8), ureteral obstruction secondary to calcium oxalate lithiasis (2/8), polytrauma (2/8), or a suspected spindle cell tumor (1/8). Ionized hypercalcemia was observed in one cat prior to corneal deposit development. At corneal deposit diagnosis, all cats had already been treated with various topical treatments, the most frequent being sodium hyaluronate (6/8) and neomycin-polymyxin B (5/8), and six cats received methadone for pain management of their underlying conditions. Bacterial and fungal cultures (Cat 1) yielded negative results, and histopathological examination (Cats 1, 4) revealed calcium salt deposition in the cornea. Surgical removal by superficial keratectomy was successful in two cats (Cats 1, 4), and no recurrence was observed during long-term follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: This series described presumed or confirmed calcium corneal deposits in cats with different metabolism disorders. All cats had prior corneal ulceration and topical treatments, and 7/8 had comorbidities.