Common ocular disorders and treatments for the small animal practitioner (Proceedings)

Full Thickness Eyelid Wedge Resection

-indications: mass, tumor and entropion/ectropion

-up to 1/3 of eyelid margin can be removed safely and skin reapposed

-use 2 layer closure (conjunctiva-6-0 absorbable; skin-4-0 or 5-0 nylon)

-initial skin suture should be at skin margin

Corneal Grid Keratotomy

-indications: indolent corneal ulceration only

-initially need to debride which can be done by #15 blade and local anesthesia only

-I use a 21 gauge needle (tip does not need to be bent)

-grid approximately 1mm into normal epithelium/stroma

-consider concurrent use of a collagen shield

-triple antibiotic BID (gentocin may be toxic to reepithelialization), ± atropine

Prolapsed Gland of Third Eyelid

-always attempt to replace a viable gland

-examine for scrolled cartilage and excise if present

-a number of tacking procedures exist but the pocket technique is recommended

-2 parallel incisions are made in the bulbar conjunctiva above and below the gland

-outside edges of each incision are apposed with a continuous pattern of 7-0 vicryl-burying the knot

-postop triple antibiotic HC ointment recommended

-generally will tack down up to 2 times before considering excision

Eyelid Tacking

-most commonly necessary and performed in Shar-pei and Chow Chow puppies with neonatal entropion

-used in adults to break spastic entropion

-usually no anesthesia necessary (young puppies); sedation may be required in select patients

-4-0 – 5-0 nylon used in vertical or horizontal pattern (I prefer a horizontal approach but published illustrations usually show a vertical one)

-staple blepharoplasty quick and simple alternative to sutures

-attempt to leave sutures/staples in place for up to 3 weeks

-likely that permanent corrective surgery will be necessary—usually performed at 4 – 6 months of age (sooner if corneal ulceration is a problem)

Vitreous Centesis

-indications: a safe and effective procedure for injection and or aspiration in visual or nonvisual eyes ie. injection for ciliary body ablation or aspirate for cytology/C & S-bacterial or fungal

-21 to 23 gauge needle

-needle is directed obliquely through the ora serrata (approx.. 7 – 8 mm posterior to limbus) and into the vitreous to avoid the lens

Temporary Tarsorrhaphy

-indications: stromal ulceration where optimal corneal surgery (i.e. conjunctival graft) is not possible; providesprotection following corneal graft

-techniques

-suture: 4-0 or 5-0 nylon; location

-tissue adhesive: VetBond® (n-butyl cyanoacrylate)