Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Traumatic phacocele in an American Miniature Horse.
- Journal:
- Veterinary ophthalmology
- Year:
- 2019
- Authors:
- Knickelbein, Kelly E et al.
- Affiliation:
- Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
An 18-year-old American Miniature Horse mare was brought in because her right eye was swollen and painful, likely due to an injury that happened about six weeks earlier. The horse was squinting a lot, and there was a noticeable bulge in the eye area. Although the veterinarian suggested an ultrasound to get a better look, the owner chose not to proceed with that test. Instead, they decided to remove the eye since it was blind and causing the horse pain. After the surgery, the examination showed that the lens of the eye had moved out of place due to the trauma, confirming a condition called traumatic phacocele. The treatment was successful in addressing the horse's pain and the issues with the eye.
Abstract
An 18-year-old American Miniature Horse mare was presented with a complaint of a scleral swelling affecting the right eye and a history of suspected trauma 6 weeks prior to evaluation. Clinical findings included severe blepharospasm, a bulbous swelling of the dorsotemporal bulbar conjunctiva, and phthisis bulbi. Ocular ultrasound was recommended but declined. Enucleation was elected for the blind, painful eye and was performed standing. Gross and histopathologic examinations of the globe were consistent with extrusion of the lens to the episcleral space, which is classified as a traumatic phacocele when associated with naturally occurring trauma. The location of lens entrapment suggested globe rupture occurred at the limbus, which is described as one of the weakest points of the equine globe. Subconjunctival dislocation of the lens and development of a traumatic phacocele should be considered as a differential diagnosis for horses presenting with subconjunctival masses, apparent aphakia, and historical trauma.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29517148/