Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Superficial keratectomy helps heal chronic corneal ulcers in cats
By Jégou, Jean-Pierre & Tromeur, Florence·Published in Veterinary ophthalmology·2015·Veterinary Eye Clinic, France·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Superficial keratectomy for chronic corneal ulcers refractory to medical treatment in 36 cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 36 cats with chronic corneal ulcers that didn't heal with medication underwent a surgical procedure called superficial keratectomy. Most of the cats saw significant improvement, with over 85% of the ulcers healing within four weeks after surgery. While some cats experienced a relapse, most were able to heal with additional medical treatment. Overall, this surgery proved to be an effective option for cats suffering from stubborn corneal ulcers.
People also search for: cat corneal ulcer treatment · cat eye surgery recovery · chronic eye problems in cats
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To review the outcome of a case series in which superficial keratectomy was used as a treatment for chronic corneal ulceration. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study ANIMALS STUDIED: Thirty-six cats (41 eyes) with ulcerative keratitis. RESULTS: Forty-one superficial lamellar keratectomies were performed. Thirty-two and a half percent (32.5%) of the ulcers were resolved within 2 weeks and 85% within 4 weeks after surgery. Nonhealing surgical cases after 4 weeks (13% of the eyes) resolved with prolonged postoperative medical treatment. The mean time to healing was 22.1 days (range 7-74 days). At the end of the follow-up period (mean 8.9 months, range 1-36 months), 82.5% of eyes had regained very good to excellent corneal transparency. Nine cases relapsed (21.9% of the eyes) after surgery. Of those cases, the cornea of eight cats healed after undergoing medical treatment, and one underwent a second limited superficial lamellar keratectomy. CONCLUSION: Superficial keratectomy in cats is an effective treatment to resolve chronic ulcerative keratitis refractory to medical treatment.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24548614/