Preliminary observations on tear film interferometry performed in horses.
Abstract: This retrospective study evaluated tear film (TF) interferometry on horses examined in Northern Italy in 2019-2021. The objectives were to evaluate horses affected by keratitis, and to describe TF values in horses with no evidence of ocular disease. All horses received a complete ophthalmic examination and were examined with the Ocular Surface Analyser, Veterinary-setting, prior to eye manipulation, staining and sample collection. Eighteen horses with no evidence of ocular disease were included in the comparison group. Additionally, 46 horses displaying signs of keratitis (neovascularization, corneal opacities, ulceration, epithelial and subepithelial infiltrates) were evaluated. These horses were divided into presumed non-infectious and infectious or presumed infectious keratitis groups (one with proven bacterial origin, and the others with diagnosed or presumptive keratomycosis) with the former including immune-mediated keratitis. From the observations of TF interferometry in the comparison population the authors concluded that for non-invasive break-up time (NIBUT), the estimated preliminary reference interval was 10.4-31.2s, and for tear meniscus height (TMH), it was 0.215-0.457mm. Moreover, within the keratitis population, from an interferometric point of view punctate lesions of the ocular surface were present in all cases of active diagnosed or presumptive subepithelial keratomycosis but not in any of the non-infectious cases, either non-ulcerative or ulcerative. Limitations of the study include a relatively low number of horses examined and the fact that the diagnosis of infectious keratitis was presumptive and based on clinical improvement after treatment in some cases. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of TF interferometry performed in horses.
Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Publication Date: 2024-01-11 PubMed ID: 38218326DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2024.105002Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article presents a retrospective study on tear film interferometry performed on horses. It focuses on the analysis of horses affected by keratitis and healthy horses. The key objective is to clarify the reference ranges for certain tear film measurements for horses and differences observed in horses with keratitis, a form of ocular disease.
Research Methodology
- The study was conducted on a sample of horses in Northern Italy from 2019 to 2021. The selected horses underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic examination along with evaluation through the Ocular Surface Analyser specifically designed for a veterinary setting
- Two groups of horses were evaluated for this study. The comparison group composed of 18 healthy horses with no ocular disease. The second group consisted 46 horses showing signs of keratitis. The keratitis cases were further categorized into non-infectious and infectious (with either proven bacterial origin or presumptive keratomycosis) diseases
Key Observations and Findings
- Tear film interferometry on the comparison group inferred non-invasive break-up time (NIBUT), a measure of tear film stability, to range between 10.4-31.2 seconds. The tear meniscus height (TMH), which quantifies tear volume, ranged between 0.215-0.457 mm
- In the group having keratitis, punctate lesions were observed on the ocular surface in all active diagnosed or presumptive keratomycosis cases. However, no such lesions were found in any non-infectious cases, whether non-ulcerative or ulcerative
Limitations and Future Research
- The research was conducted on a relatively limited number of horses which could potentially affect the generality of the results
- The classification and diagnosis of infectious keratitis was partially speculative, with certain cases confirmed based on the positive response to treatment
- This being the first report of tear film interferometry in horses, prompts further research and investigation to corroborate and expand on the preliminary findings
Significance of the Study
- This research provided a primary reference range for certain tear film measurements in horses. This could be instrumental in enhancing ocular disease diagnosis techniques in veterinary medicine
- The study sheds light on differences in the ocular surface changes presented in infectious vs non-infectious keratitis
Cite This Article
APA
Cattaneo A, Guandalini A, Peruccio C.
(2024).
Preliminary observations on tear film interferometry performed in horses.
J Equine Vet Sci, 105002.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2024.105002 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equine Ophthalmic Referrals, Via Endine 29, 24021 Albino (Bg), Italy; Ophthalmology Referrals, Centro Veterinario Specialistico (CVS), Via Sandro Giovannini 51/53, 00137 Roma (Rm), Italy. Electronic address: alexia.cat@gmail.com.
- Ophthalmology Referrals, Centro Veterinario Specialistico (CVS), Via Sandro Giovannini 51/53, 00137 Roma (Rm), Italy.
- Ophthalmology Referrals, Centro Veterinario Torinese (CVT), Lungo Dora Pietro Colletta 147, 10153 Torino (To), Italy.
Conflict of Interest Statement
Declaration of competing interest None of the authors have any financial or personal relationships that could inappropriately influence or bias the content of the paper.
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