FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Ophthalmol / Evaluation of equine corneal disease using ultrasound biomic...
Veterinary ophthalmology2021; 25 Suppl 1; 179-184; doi: 10.1111/vop.12881

Evaluation of equine corneal disease using ultrasound biomicroscopy.

Abstract: To describe the clinical use of ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) to evaluate equine corneal disease. Methods: Images were obtained using a 50-MHz probe ultrasound biomicroscopy system (Quantel Aviso) and Clear Scan® probe cover. Six horses with corneal disease were evaluated via UBM for lesion size, lesion depth, and continuity of Descemet's membrane. Horses were sedated and received auriculopalpebral nerve blocks and application of topical anesthetic prior to UBM. Results: Ultrasound biomicroscopy was easily performed in all cases. UBM evaluation of three cases of corneo-limbal squamous cell carcinoma yielded information regarding lesion depth for planning of keratectomies using fixed-depth keratomes and subsequent β-radiation therapy. Corneal depth and continuity of Descemet's membrane were determined in two horses with stromal abscesses and allowed for planning of therapeutic options. In one horse with a corneal foreign body, UBM contributed to accurate assessment of the foreign body's stromal depth, which could not be assessed during ophthalmic examination due to extensive corneal cellular infiltrate. The information regarding corneal depth allowed for more accurate pre-surgical planning in patients with opaque corneal lesions. Conclusions: Ultrasound biomicroscopy was easily performed and provided useful information regarding lesion depth and continuity of Descemet's membrane for patients with corneo-limbal squamous cell carcinoma, stromal abscesses, and a corneal foreign body, allowing for increased precision in pre-surgical planning and development of therapeutic protocols.
© 2021 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2021-03-11 PubMed ID: 33694251DOI: 10.1111/vop.12881Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Case Reports
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study explores the usefulness of ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) in examining corneal disease in horses. The research points out that UBM effectively assesses lesion size, depth, and the condition of an important eye layer, thereby informing better pre-surgical decisions and treatment strategies.

Research Methodology

  • The research was carried out using a 50-MHz probe ultrasound biomicroscopy system (Quantel Aviso) and Clear Scan probe cover.
  • Six horses diagnosed with corneal diseases were included as subjects in the study.
  • The horses were sedated and given auriculopalpebral nerve blocks, and topical anesthetic prior to UBM.
  • Through UBM, researchers assessed corneal disease based on lesion size, depth, and the continuity of Descemet’s membrane (a thin layer of the cornea).

Research Findings

  • Based on the research, UBM was simple to implement in all of the cases.
  • For three cases of corneo-limbal squamous cell carcinoma (a common type of corneal cancer in horses), UBM provided significant details about the lesion depth, which assisted in the planning of keratectomies (removal of part of the cornea) and subsequent β-radiation therapy.
  • In two horses with stromal abscesses (an accumulation of pus in the corneal layer), UBM confirmed the depth of the corneal disease and the condition of the Descemet’s membrane, which in turn guided therapy selection.
  • In a case involving a horse with a corneal foreign body, UBM provided an accurate assessment of the foreign body’s depth within the stroma, which was not initially possible due to an extensive corneal cellular infiltrate (spread of cells within the cornea). This allowed for improved pre-operation planning.

Conclusion

  • The research concludes that UBM can be easily performed and offers beneficial information for assessing corneal disease in horses.
  • The technology assists in determining lesion depth and the state of the Descemet’s membrane, providing more certainty when planning pre-surgical procedures and determining therapeutic approaches.
  • The study suggests that UBM can be a vital tool in diagnosing and treating corneal diseases in equine patients more effectively.

Cite This Article

APA
Keenan AV, Townsend WM. (2021). Evaluation of equine corneal disease using ultrasound biomicroscopy. Vet Ophthalmol, 25 Suppl 1, 179-184. https://doi.org/10.1111/vop.12881

Publication

Veterinary ophthalmology
ISSN: 1463-5224
NlmUniqueID: 100887377
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 25 Suppl 1
Pages: 179-184

Researcher Affiliations

Keenan, Alessandra V
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn, AL, USA.
Townsend, Wendy M
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, West Lafayette, IN, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Abscess / veterinary
  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / veterinary
  • Corneal Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Corneal Diseases / pathology
  • Corneal Diseases / veterinary
  • Foreign Bodies / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Horses
  • Microscopy, Acoustic / veterinary
  • Ultrasonography

References

This article includes 18 references
  1. Brooks D, Matthews A, Clode A. Diseases of the cornea. In: Gilger B, ed. Equine Ophthalmology, 3rd edn. Ames, Iowa: John Wiley & Sons; 2016:252-368.
  2. Hallowell GD, Bowen IM. Practical ultrasonography of the equine eye. Equine Vet Educ 2007;19:600-605.
    doi: 10.2746/095777307x254536google scholar: lookup
  3. Bentley E, Miller PE, Diehl KA. Evaluation of intra- and interobserver reliability and image reproducibility to assess usefulness of high-resolution ultrasonography for measurement of anterior segment structures of canine eyes. Am J Vet Res 2005;66:1775-1779.
    doi: 10.2460/ajvr.2005.66.1775google scholar: lookup
  4. Bentley E, Miller PE, Diehl KA. Use of high-resolution ultrasound as a diagnostic tool in veterinary ophthalmology. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2003;223:1617-1622.
    doi: 10.2460/javma.2003.223.1617google scholar: lookup
  5. Pavlin CJ, Foster FS. Ultrasound biomicroscopy: high-frequency ultrasound imaging of the eye at microscopic resolution. Radiol Clin North Am 1998;36:1047-1058.
  6. Barash D, Goldenberg-Cohen N, Tzadok D, Lifshitz T, Yassur Y, Weinberger D. Ultrasound biomicroscopic detection of anterior ocular segment foreign body after trauma. Am J Ophthalmol 1998;126:197-202.
    doi: 10.1016/s0002-9394(98)00147-0google scholar: lookup
  7. Pavlin CJ, Harasiewicz K, Sherar MD, Foster FS. Clinical use of ultrasound biomicroscopy. Ophthalmology 1991;98:287-295.
    doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(91)32298-xgoogle scholar: lookup
  8. Silverman R. High-resolution ultrasound imaging of the eye-a review. Clin Exp Ophthalmol 2009;37:54-67.
  9. Reinstein DZ, Aslanides IM, Silverman RH, Asbell PA, Jackson CD. High-Frequency ultrasound corneal pachymetry in the assessment of corneal scars for therapeutic planning. Eye Contact Lens 1994;20:198-203.
    doi: 10.1097/00140068-199407000-00014google scholar: lookup
  10. Taylor LN, Townsend WM, Gan Heng H, Stiles J, Moore GE. Comparison of ultrasound biomicroscopy and standard ocular ultrasonography for detection of canine uveal cysts. Am J Vet Res 2015;76:540-546.
    doi: 10.2460/ajvr.76.6.540google scholar: lookup
  11. Herbig LE, Eule JC. Central corneal thickness measurements and ultrasonographic study of the growing equine eye. Vet Ophthalmol 2015;18:462-471.
    doi: 10.1111/vop.12252google scholar: lookup
  12. Bell NP, Feldman RM, Zou Y, Prager TC. New technology for examining the anterior segment by ultrasonic biomicroscopy. J Cataract Refract Surg 2008;34:121-125.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jcrs.2007.09.016google scholar: lookup
  13. Ledbetter EC, Scarlett JM. In vivo confocal microscopy of the normal equine cornea and limbus. Vet Ophthalmol 2009;12:57-64.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1463-5224.2009.00730.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  14. Ledbetter EC, Irby NL, Kim SG. In vivo confocal microscopy of equine fungal keratitis. Vet Ophthalmol 2011;14:1-9.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1463-5224.2010.00822.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  15. Ledbetter EC, Irby NL, Schaefer DMW. In vivo confocal microscopy of corneal microscopic foreign bodies in horses. Vet Ophthalmol 2014;17:69-75.
    doi: 10.1111/vop.12139google scholar: lookup
  16. Blanchard A, Barr EM, Gilger BC. Evaluation of equine corneal disease using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Vet Ophthalmol 2019;22(6):791-798.
    doi: 10.1111/vop.12652google scholar: lookup
  17. Pinto NI, Gilger BC. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography evaluation of the cornea, retina, and optic nerve in normal horses. Vet Ophthalmol 2014;17:140-148.
    doi: 10.1111/vop.12180google scholar: lookup
  18. Pirie CG, Alario AF, Barysauskas CM, Gradil C, Uricchio CK. Manual corneal thickness measurements of healthy equine eyes using a portable spectral-domain optical coherence tomography device. Equine Vet J 2014;46:631-634.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.12198google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,344 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.