Feasibility of aqueous shunts for reduction of intraocular pressure in horses.

The research is about the exploration of applying aqueous shunts in horses to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP), a method that could potentially control equine glaucoma, a prevalent issue that current medical and surgical treatments seemingly struggle to manage effectively.

Research Methodology

• The researchers applied a prospective experimental trial in this study. Aqueous shunts, a glaucoma treatment proven effective in other species, were implanted dorsotemporally in the eyes of 4 horses.
• Examinations were done daily for the first week following the operation and then every third day for the following four weeks. After these stages, the horses were euthanized, and their globes were examined histologically.
• The research team compared the IOP values obtained throughout the postoperative period to the preoperative value, using a Wilcoxon signed ranks test to analyze the statistical significance. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered significant.

Research Findings

• The results showed a significant decrease in IOP from preoperative to any postoperative day, with P values ranging between 0.018 and 0.048. This implies that the aqueous shunts effectively reduced IOP in the horses’ eyes.
• In terms of complications, two eyes developed corneal ulcers but eventually recovered. Temporary shallow anterior chambers were noted in two eyes, which normalized after the introduction of full eye cup masks.
• On a histological scale, all of the eyes experienced fibrosis around the shunt, while a majority also had minimal peripheral neovascularization and neutrophilic keratitis. The level of corneal damage predominantly ranged from none to mild, with only one case recording marked damage.

Conclusion

• This research suggests that utilizing aqueous shunts to significantly decrease IOP, and potentially control equine glaucoma, could be a feasible solution. Despite the fibrosis surrounding the implants, there were no vision-threatening complications observed during the study period.
• The results warrant further studies in horses with glaucoma to further evaluate the potential of aqueous shunts as an effective treatment option for equine glaucoma.