Intraocular silicone prosthesis in a horse.

This study examines the use of a silicone prosthesis to treat glaucoma in a horse. The glaucoma was believed to result from lens subluxation, but primary glaucoma could not be ruled out. Despite medical treatments, the intraocular pressure remained high, necessitating the insertion of the prosthesis.

Research and Methodology

• The researchers used a 40-mm intraocular silicone prosthesis inserted in a horse’s eye as a new approach to manage glaucoma, an ocular condition marked by excessive intraocular pressure.
• The horse had previously been treated with medication and cyclocryotherapy; however, these techniques did not effectively control the intraocular pressure.
• The silicone prosthesis was implanted via a dorsal scleral incision, which means that an incision was made in the white part of the eye, after all the contents within the eye had been removed.

Findings

• The size of the prosthesis required was gauged by measuring the horse’s normal left eye and another enucleated (removed) eye from an age-matched horse.
• The silicone prosthesis provided a cosmetic advantage over simple enucleation or removal of the eye, a common treatment for blind, sensitive eyes in horses.
• This research suggests that the use of an intraocular silicone prosthesis could be an effective alternative or additional treatment for glaucoma in horses where other treatments have been unsuccessful in reducing intraocular pressure.

Implications

• If adopted widely, this technique may significantly improve the cosmetics and potentially the quality of life for horses suffering from conditions like glaucoma that result in blindness and discomfort.
• Having another option besides enucleation gives veterinarians another tool to manage debilitating eye conditions in equine patients.