Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Crystalline corneal opacities in dogs after eye steroid treatment
By Quantz, Katelin R et al.·Published in Cornea·2024·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Development of Crystalline Corneal Opacities (Steroid Keratopathy) in Dogs After Treatment With Ophthalmic Corticosteroids.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of Beagle and Beagle-mix dogs developed cloudy patches in their eyes, known as crystalline corneal opacities (steroid keratopathy), after being treated with eye drops containing corticosteroids for at least three weeks. These eye problems appeared about five months after starting treatment, and the dogs were given various types of corticosteroid eye drops. When the drops were stopped, four out of twenty-five affected eyes showed improvement after about a year. This suggests that stopping the corticosteroids may help resolve the eye issues in these dogs.
People also search for: Beagle eye problems after steroids · dog cloudy eyes treatment · corticosteroid side effects in dogs
Abstract
PURPOSE: To retrospectively evaluate and describe the relationship between the use of topical corticosteroids and the development of crystalline corneal opacities (steroid keratopathy) in a colony of research Beagles and Beagle-derived dogs. METHODS: Medical records of 73 purpose-bred Beagles and Beagle-derived dogs were reviewed from June 2012 to May 2021. All dogs were treated with topical ophthalmic corticosteroids for at least 21 days. In addition to regular ophthalmic examination, some dogs also had a systemic lipid profile (n = 6) performed to work up further and characterize the crystalline corneal opacities. Globes of 3 dogs were examined histopathologically. RESULTS: Axial stromal crystalline corneal opacities were appreciated in 25 eyes of 14 dogs after a median of 141 days after initiating treatment (35-396 days). Multiple corticosteroids were used, including neomycin-polymyxin b-dexamethasone 0.1% ophthalmic ointment, prednisolone acetate 1% ophthalmic suspension, and difluprednate 0.05% ophthalmic emulsion (Durezol). Resolution of corneal opacity was documented in 4 of 25 eyes when ophthalmic corticosteroids were discontinued after a median of 406.5 days (271-416 days). Histopathologic examination revealed a dense band of acellular material, poorly staining with periodic acid-Schiff, subtending the corneal epithelium, and being surrounded by spindle cells. CONCLUSIONS: This case series documents the onset of steroid keratopathy in Beagles and Beagle-derived dogs after treatment with ophthalmic corticosteroids. Clinical resolution of steroid keratopathy lesions may be possible after discontinuation of ophthalmic corticosteroids.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38478757/