Bilateral third eyelid ectopic cilia in an adult horse.

The study is about a 15-year-old horse with unusual hair growth on its third eyelids that was causing discomfort and eye problems. Medical intervention removed the hair and stopped the problem.

Background and Ailment Presentation

• The research relates to the case of a 15-year-old Cob mare that was suffering from chronic epiphora (abnormal tear secretion) and intermittent blepharospasm (abnormal blinking or spasming) in its right eye.
• The symptoms have been persisting for 4 months before the horse was brought in for an ophthalmic examination.
• During the examination, vets found two translucent and out of place hairs growing at the third eyelid margin. This area was also showing signs of corneal fibrosis (an indicator of previous injury) and neovascularization.

First Intervention and Post-Operative Symptoms

• The vets decided to partially excise the third eyelid, removing the part which had the unwanted hair.
• Subsequent histopathology tests confirmed that what the vets had discovered were indeed ectopic hair follicles – hair follicles that were growing in a location where they are not supposed to grow.
• Despite the successful operation, two weeks later the horse again started showing the same clinical signs, again in the right eye.
• On examination, the veterinarians found a new pair of aberrant hair growth on a different part of the third eyelid. This newly affected part was also excised, and further histopathology tests confirmed two additional ectopic hair follicles.

Repeated Symptom Occurrence and Final Intervention

• Unfortunately, eight months later, the horse began to display similar clinical signs, but this time in its left eye.
• An examination exposed a single aberrant hair at the third eyelid margin on the left eye which was associated with localized fibrosis and new blood vessel formation in that eye’s cornea.
• As with the right eye, vets conducted a partial excision of the third eyelid where the unusual hair was sighted.
• Following the procedure, histopathology positively identified the presence of an ectopic hair follicle in the third eyelid’s conjunctiva – the mucous membrane that lines the inside of the eyelid.

Outcome of the Study and Interventions

• The excisions performed and the removal of the ectopic cilia resulted in no further recurrence of the symptoms or the aberrant hair growth.
• The horse was symptom-free in both eyes four years postoperatively, indicating the success of the treatment.