Nonhealing corneal ulcers in cats: 29 cases (1991-1999)

Objective - To compare mean healing times after debridement, debridement wi th grid keratotomy, and superficial keratectomy in cats with nonhealing cor neal ulcers. Design - Retrospective study. Animals - 29 cats with 36 nonhealing corneal ulcers. Procedure - Medical records of cats with nonhealing corneal ulcers were rev iewed. Signalment, duration of clinical signs, ophthalmic abnormalities, an d response to various treatment protocols were recorded. Results - Mean age of affected cats was 7 years, 8 months. Affected breeds included domestic shorthair (17 cats), Persian (9), Himalayan (2), and Siam ese (1). Clinical signs were evident for approximately 2 weeks prior to ref erral. Both eyes were affected in 4 cats. Mean healing time of ulcers treat ed with superficial debridement was 30 days. Mean healing time of ulcers tr eated with superficial debridement and grid keratotomy was 42 days. Superfi cial keratectomy was performed on 2 eyes and resulted in a healing time of 2 weeks. Formation of a corneal sequestrum was evident in 2 of 21 eyes trea ted with superficial debridement. Formation of a corneal sequestrum was evi dent in 4 of 13 eyes treated with superficial debridement and grid keratoto my. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance - Brachycephalic cats appear to be predi sposed to developing nonhealing corneal ulcers. The combination of superfic ial debridement and grid keratotomy did not decrease mean healing time of n onhealing ulcers, compared with superficial debridement alone. Grid keratot omy may predispose cats with corneal ulcers to develop a corneal sequestrum .