Peripheral corneal ulcers in the horse.

This research article investigates a peculiar form of escalating peripheral corneal ulcers in five horses, providing insights on their clinical manifestations, as well as their response towards various treatment procedures.

Research Context and Objective

• The research revolves around a retrospective analysis of five cases of horses presenting a unique form of progressing peripheral corneal ulcers. The motive of this study is to gather insights about this unusual manifestation, its effect on the horses, and their response to different treatments.

Presentation of Peripheral Corneal Ulcers

• The observed ulcers were located in the perilimbal area (around the border of the cornea) and showed progression towards the middle and in a circular motion around the cornea.
• Lipping, or the outward curling of the edge of the epithelium, was frequently observed.
• The ulcers varied in terms of depth, ranging from superficial to mid stroma (middle layer of the cornea).
• The ages of the affected horses ranged from two-and-a-half to eight years, and both sexes were involved.
• All horses were referred for the study after undergoing various antibacterial treatments.

Patient History and Observations

• Upon reviewing the histories of the horses, a common observation was that all ulcers were located adjacent to the limbus (outer edge of the cornea) in one or more quadrants.
• None of the patients had known trauma prior to the onset of the corneal disease.
• All the horses were in good general health, unaffected by any other noticeable ailment.

Pathological Findings and Treatments

• A procedure known as conjunctivectomy (surgical removal of all or a part of the conjunctiva) was performed in three patients, which revealed a high occurrence of plasma cells (major components of the immune system) and lymphocytes (white blood cells).
• None of the tested cases showed the presence of a specific bacterial pathogen that could be contributing to the corneal ulceration.
• The patients showed diverse responses to different treatment approaches, including topical corticosteroids, surgical debridement (removal of damaged tissue), application of therapeutic soft contact lenses, and conjunctivectomy.