WEB Vetnews May 2015

Regulars I Eye column

Treatment of non-healing corneal ulcers with diamond burr debridement Spontaneous chronic corneal epithelial defects have been well described in the dog. In affected patients, these corneal defects are characterized by varying degrees of blepharospasm, corneal ulcers with non-adherent epithelial margins and prolonged wound healing.

A plethora of treat­ ments are available for these ulcers. These include epithelial debride­ ment, needle stro­ mal puncture, or grid and superficial keratectomy. Amongst these surgical treatments the diamond burr debridement (DBD) has been widely advocated in the treatment of recurrent erosions in people and may be considered as an alternative therapy for recurrent non-healing ulcers in animals. DBD has several advantages in that it produces no scarring in the cornea and may be safer than needle stro­ mal puncture. It is also a procedure that can be performed under local E ye

COLUMN

Dr Antony Goodhead, Dr Izak Venter & Dr Lo-An Odayar Specialist Veterinary Ophthalmologists, Johannesburg Animal Eye Hospital (www.animaleyehospital.co.za)

anaesthesia. Like epithelial debride­ ment and stromal puncture, DBD is easily repeated in patients that have not healed after a single procedure. Based on results of a recent study of 36 dogs with non-healing ulcers, DBD Fig 1. Chronic non healing superficial ulcer with a loose epithelial rim (Equine eye)

Fig 2. Diamond burr used for corneal epithelial debridement

with placement of a bandage contact lens (BCL), may be a safe and effec­ tive treatment of canine superficial chronic corneal erosions and may be associated with a faster healing time compared to a grid keratotomy. v

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Mei/May 2015