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Purpose: To define the normal range of central corneal thickness (CCT) and corneal endothelial cell density (ECD) in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and the effects of age, body weight, sex, and intraocular pressure (IOP) on these parameters., Methods: Ophthalmic examinations were performed on 144 rhesus macaques without anterior segment pathology. The CCT was measured via ultrasound pachymetry (USP) and specular microscopy, and the ECD was semiautomatically and manually counted using specular microscopy. Rebound tonometry was used to measure IOP. Linear regression and mixed-effects linear regression models were used to evaluate the effects of age, body weight, sex, and IOP on CCT and ECD., Results: We included 98 females and 46 males with an age range of 0.2 to 29.4 years. The mean CCT by USP and specular microscopy were 483 ± 39 and 463 ± 33 µm, respectively, and were statistically different (P < 0.001). The ECDs were 2717 ± 423 and 2747 ± 438 cells/mm2 by semiautomated and manual analysis, respectively. Corneal endothelial degeneration was identified in one aged rhesus macaque., Conclusions: The mean USP and specular microscopy CCT values differed significantly, whereas the semiautomatic and manual ECD did not. The CCT was associated with the IOP and sex, whereas the ECD was associated with body weight and age (P < 0.05). As in humans, corneal disease in rhesus macaques is uncommon., Translational Relevance: Establishing reference values is fundamental to use rhesus macaques as a model for corneal disease or to identify toxicity in studies of ocular drugs or devices.

Objective: To determine corneal thickness (CT) and axial anterior chamber depth (ACD) using ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) in normal adult horses. To compare corneal thickness measurements between UBM and ultrasonic pachymetry., Animals Studied: Sixty eyes of 30 healthy adult horses aged 8-24 years., Procedures: Ultrasonic pachymetry (velocity of 1640 m/s) was utilized to obtain measurements of the central, superior, temporal, inferior, and nasal cornea. Triplicate images of the same corneal locations were acquired using UBM (50 MHz). Images of the axial anterior chamber were used to measure ACD. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was estimated using rebound tonometry, and axial globe length was measured using ultrasonographic biometry., Results: CT (mean ± SD µm) measured by UBM was 854 ± 61 (central), 994 ± 58 (superior), 930 ± 57 (temporal), 979 ± 55 (inferior), and 898 ± 48 (nasal). CT measured by UBM was greater than that measured by ultrasonic pachymetry at all locations and was statistically significant at all locations except inferior (p = 0.0006-0.048). No sex nor age effect was detected for CT at any location. The repeatability of ultrasonic pachymetry was superior to that of UBM. Mean ± SD ACD was 5.74 ± 0.41 mm. A weak positive correlation was identified between central CT and IOP and between central CT and axial globe length., Conclusions: Normal data for CT and ACD of the adult horse obtained using UBM are provided. CT determined by UBM was greater relative to pachymetry at all corneal locations., (© 2022 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.)

The course travelled by corneal epithelial cells from their stem cell niche at the limbus toward the vertex of the cornea is normally not evident due to their transparency, but in certain conditions, the epithelial cells can be rendered visible to the clinician. In such cases, the pathway taken by epithelial cells can manifest as a whorl pattern described using a variety of terms including hurricane keratitis/keratopathy, vortex keratopathy, whorl keratopathy, cornea verticillata, and at times, named after causative agents as exemplified by amiodarone keratopathy. Here, we briefly discuss the terminology used and the spectrum of conditions that can result in keratopathies with whorl patterns in human patients. We review the manifestations of such patterns in veterinary patients and discuss the state of understanding of the underlying forces that create the whorl distribution of epithelial cells on the ocular surface., (© 2018 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.)

This study evaluated the effect of onion extract on corneal haze suppression after applying the air assisted lamellar keratectomy. The air assisted lamellar keratectomy was performed on 24 canine eyes. They were treated with an artificial tear (group C), prednisolone acetate (group P), onion extract (group O) and TGF-β1 (group T) three times per day from 7 to 28 days after the surgery. Corneal haze occurred on the all eyes and was observed beginning 7 days after the surgery. The haze was significantly decreased in groups P and O from day 14 compared with the group C using the clinical (group P; P=0.021, group O; P=0.037) and objective evaluation method (group P; P=0.021, group O; P=0.039). In contrast, it was significantly increased in group T from day 14 compared with group C based on the clinical (P=0.002) and objective evaluation method (P<0.001). Subsequently, these eyes were enucleated after euthanasia, and immunohistochemistry with α-SMA antibodies was done. The total green intensity for α-SMA was significantly more expressed in group T and significantly less expressed in groups P and O than in group C. Onion extract could have potential as a therapeutic in preventing corneal haze development by suppressing the differentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts.

To standardize the corneal haze model in the resection depth and size for efficient corneal haze development, air assisted lamellar keratectomy was performed. The ex vivo porcine corneas were categorized into four groups depending on the trephined depth: 250 µm (G1), 375 µm (G2), 500 µm(G3) and 750 µm (G4). The stroma was equally ablated at the five measurement sites in all groups. Significant differences were observed between the trephined corneal depths for resection and ablated corneal thickness in G1 (p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed between the trephined corneal depth for resection and the ablated corneal thickness in G2, G3, and G4. The resection percentage was similar in all groups after microscopic imaging of corneal sections. Air assisted lamellar keratectomy (AK) and conventional keratectomy (CK) method were applied to six beagles, after which development of corneal haze was evaluated weekly until postoperative day 28. The occurrence of corneal haze in the AK group was significantly higher than that in the CK group beginning 14 days after surgery. Alpha-smooth muscle actin expression was significantly higher in the AK group (p < 0.001) than the CK group. Air assisted lamellar keratectomy was used to achieve the desired corneal thickness after resection and produce sufficient corneal haze.

ObjectiveTo describe the clinical findings, multimodal corneal imaging features and treatment in canine patients diagnosed with endotheliitis.Animals studiedFour canine patients met inclusion criteria for bilateral corneal disease with endothelial inflammation and secondary corneal edema that responded to topical anti-inflammatory treatment.MethodsThe patients selected underwent a complete ophthalmic examination with emphasis on the cornea including ultrasound pachymetry (USP), Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT), in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM), and digital slit lamp photography.ResultsAll patients in this study demonstrated thickened corneas due to edema with USP and FD-OCT. With IVCM, mild to severe polymegathism and pleomorphism of corneal endothelial cells, reduced endothelial cell density, hyperreflective keratic precipitates (KPs), and extracellular debris as well as hyporeflective pseudoguttata were observed. With FD-OCT, hyperreflective KPs were commonly observed on the inferior cornea. Clinical examination and advanced imaging results were consistent with a diagnosis of endotheliitis. All patients initially responded to topical anti-inflammatory treatment and required continued therapy; two patients also received topical netarsudil, a rho-associated coiled-coil kinase inhibitor.ConclusionEndotheliitis should be considered for canine patients with bilateral edema that is most severe in the inferior cornea. Careful inspection of Descemet's membrane-endothelial complex should be performed for KPs or inflammatory debris. Chronic administration of topical anti-inflammatories may be necessary to prevent flare-ups of endotheliitis.

PurposeGlycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are important components of the corneal stroma, and their spatiotemporal arrangement regulates the organization of collagen fibrils and maintains corneal transparency. This study was undertaken to determine the consequences of hyaluronidase (HAse) injected into the corneal stroma on stromal stiffness and ultrastructure.MethodsEqual volumes of HAse or balanced salt solution (vehicle) were injected intrastromally into the corneas of New Zealand white rabbits. Ophthalmic examination and multimodal imaging techniques, including Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography and in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM), were performed at multiple time points to evaluate the impact of HAse treatment in vivo. Atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to measure corneal stiffness and collagen's interfibrillar spacing, respectively.ResultsCentral corneal thickness progressively decreased after HAse injection, reaching its lowest value at day 7, and then returned to normal by day 42. The HAse did not impact the corneal endothelium but transiently altered keratocyte morphology at days 1 and 7, as measured by IVCM. HAse-injected corneas became stiffer by day 1 postinjection, were stiffest at day 7, and returned to preinjection values by day 90. Changes in stromal stiffness correlated with decreased interfibrillar spacing as measured by TEM.ConclusionsDegradation of GAGs by HAse decreases the corneal thickness and increases stromal stiffness through increased packing of the collagen fibrils in a time-dependent manner.Translational relevanceIntrastromal HAse injection appears relatively safe in the normal cornea, but its impact on corneal biomechanics and structure under pathologic conditions requires further study.

Captive fish populations, such as those encompassing aquarium and pet fish, offer significant economic value and are integral to conservation, research, and education. However, these ornamental fish exhibit a reduced ability to protect their ocular surfaces, and our understanding of the ocular diseases that affect them remains limited. Although corneal neoplasms in carp are uncommon, identifying their distinct characteristics is crucial in selecting appropriate therapeutic interventions that aim to preserve vision, prevent the ocular loss, and ultimately ensure the survival of the affected fish. This study provides clinical and histopathological details of various proliferative corneal masses in Cyprininae species, including five koi (Cyprinus carpio) and four goldfish (Carassius auratus). It discusses a spectrum of neoplasms, including soft tissue sarcoma, spindle cell sarcoma, chromatophoroma, and papilloma, in addition to conditions like exuberant granulation tissue and proliferative carp pox. These findings bear significant implications for clinical decision‐making and treatment, offering valuable insights into the incidence and characteristics of corneal tumors in captive fish, which could inform further studies in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]