Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Corneal graft surgery to fix deep eye wounds in dogs
By Lacerda, Rodrigo P et al.·Published in Veterinary ophthalmology·2017·Hospital Clí, Spain·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Corneal grafting for the treatment of full-thickness corneal defects in dogs: a review of 50 cases.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 50 dogs with serious eye problems, specifically full-thickness corneal defects (deep injuries to the eye's surface), underwent corneal grafting to help restore their vision. Most of these dogs were brachycephalic breeds, like Bulldogs and Pugs, and they received either frozen or fresh grafts. After surgery, many dogs experienced some complications, but overall, 86% had good anatomical results, and 95% of those were able to see well at their follow-up appointments. If any grafts were rejected, additional treatments helped manage the issue effectively.
People also search for: dog eye surgery recovery · corneal grafting for dogs · brachycephalic dog eye problems · dog vision restoration treatment
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe corneal grafting for the treatment of full-thickness corneal defects in dogs and to determine its effectiveness in preserving vision. METHODS: A review of the medical records of dogs that underwent corneal grafting following corneal perforations (≥3 mm) at the VTH-UAB from 2002 to 2012 was carried out. RESULTS: Fifty dogs of different breed, age and gender were included. Brachycephalic breeds were overrepresented (37/50;74%). All cases were unilateral, with euryblepharon being the most common concurrent ocular abnormality (20/50;40%). Full-thickness penetrating keratoplasties (FTPK) were performed in 21/50 eyes (42%) and lamellar keratoplasties (LK) in 29/50 eyes (58%). Frozen grafts (FroG) were used in 43/50 eyes (86%) and fresh homologous grafts (FreHoG) in 7/50 (14%). Of the former group, 26 were homologous (FroHoG:60%) and 17 heterologous (FroHeG:40%). A combination of topical medication (antibiotics, corticosteroids, cycloplegics, and 0.2% cyclosporine A) and systemic mycophenolate mofetil was administered. Median follow-up time was 200 days. Postsurgical complications included wound dehiscence (6/50;12%) and glaucoma (4/50;8%). Clinical signs of graft rejection were diagnosed as follows: FroHoG (13/26;50%), FroHeG (11/17;65%), FreHoG (4/7;57%), FTPK (12/21;57%), and LK (16/29;55%). Medical treatment successfully controlled graft rejection in 11/28 eyes (39%). Good anatomical outcome was achieved in 86% (43/50), of which 95% (41/43) were visual at last examination, with moderate opacification to complete transparency of the graft present in 48.2%. CONCLUSIONS: Corneal grafting is an effective surgical treatment for full-thickness corneal defects in dogs. If graft rejection is present, additional medical or surgical therapy may be necessary, achieving a highly satisfactory visual outcome.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27241238/