Corneal Ulcer

PET DISEASE AND ALLERGIES: CORNEAL ULCER

Background: The cornea is the clear tissue covering the surface of the eye over the iris (colored portion of the eye). Corneal ulcers form when there is a partial or total break in this tissue. Corneal ulcers may result from trauma to the eye from a cat scratch or constant rubbing by an eyelash and may be complicated by a bacterial or fungal infection. Other causes of corneal ulcers include dry eye (a decrease in tears irrigating the eye), protruding eyes (such as in Pugs and Bulldogs), Diabetes Mellitus, Addison’s disease and hypothyroidism.

Clinical Signs: Corneal ulcers are extremely painful and may cause your pet to avoid bright lights. Clinical signs also include squinting, watering or redness of the eye and a visible cloudy spot on the surface of the eye.

Diagnosis: The most immediate diagnosis of a corneal ulcer is a fluoroscein dye test. The dye is placed on the surface of the eye to "highlight" the corneal ulcer. This test helps your veterinarian determine the size and depth of the ulcer. If your veterinarian suspects an underlying cause, like dry eye, other tests may also be recommended.

Treatment: Treatment of corneal ulcers should be very aggressive since corneal ulcers may progress very rapidly, causing a full thickness break in the cornea and potential loss of the eye. Very small ulcers may be treated with topical medications alone. These should be given several times a day, as recommended by your veterinarian.

For larger or deeper ulcers, it may be necessary to perform surgery to save the eye, ranging from placing a contact lens to protect the surface, to transplanting a flap of the inner eyelid to the cornea to promote healing.

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