Comparison of different surgical techniques for the management of corneal ulcers in 24 dogs

Corneal ulcers were recorded in 24 clinical cases. The corneal ulcers were unilateral in 20 cases and bilateral in four. History of trauma (n=6), kerato-conjuctivitis sicca (n=10), blepharitis (n=5) and chronic use of corticosteroids (n=3) were the causes of corneal ulcers. Pugs represented 87.5% of dogs studied. Varying degree of corneal opacity was present in 22 eyes, which were mostly corneal oedema and/or neovascularization of the epithelial tissue. Clinically, ulcers were classified as superficial (n=11) or deep (n=17). Animals were allotted to four groups on the basis of treatment i.e., grid keratotomy (n=5), punctate keratotomy (n=5), third eyelid flap (n=8) and conservative management (n=5). Grid keratotomy and third eyelid flap were found equally effective in the surgical management of corneal ulcers with minimal complications.