Treatment
Treatment for a corneal sequestrum depends on how deep the lesion is, the overall health of the cornea, and how uncomfortable the eye is for your cat. In mild or early cases, medical treatment may sometimes be used to help support the eye and keep your pet comfortable.
Medical management may include:
- Lubricating eye drops to protect and support the surface of the eye
- Antibiotic medications to treat or prevent infection
- Antiviral treatment if feline herpesvirus is suspected to be contributing to the problem
However, corneal sequestra are often painful and are commonly associated with corneal ulceration. Because of this, surgery is frequently recommended. The procedure involves carefully removing the abnormal dark tissue from the cornea, which helps relieve pain, encourages healthy healing, and reduces the risk of the condition worsening or causing deeper damage to the eye.
In some cases, a graft may also be needed to strengthen and support the cornea while it heals.
Surgical Treatment
Surgery for a corneal sequestrum is performed using specialised microsurgical instruments and high magnification, allowing the surgeon to carefully and precisely remove the unhealthy dark tissue from the cornea while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible.
The damaged tissue is removed in very thin layers until healthy cornea is reached. In some cats, the sequestrum extends deeply into the cornea, leaving the eye fragile after removal. When this happens, a graft may be needed to strengthen and protect the cornea during healing.
Different types of grafts can be used depending on the size and depth of the defect:
- Conjunctival grafts use tissue from the pink lining around the eye to provide support and bring a healthy blood supply to the area, helping the cornea heal more effectively
- Corneal grafts can provide stronger structural support and may give a clearer visual outcome, particularly when the lesion affects the centre of the eye
Post Operative Care
Although surgery is often very successful, corneal sequestra can sometimes recur, even after appropriate treatment. Because of this, ongoing monitoring and good postoperative care are very important.
Follow-up assessments are essential to monitor healing and identify any early signs of recurrence or complications.
An Elizabethan collar (cone) must be worn for at least 14 days to prevent rubbing or self-trauma to the eye. Your cat will need to be kept indoors and provided with a litter tray until fully healed.
Eye medication and pain relief will be prescribed to aid healing and provide a comfortable recovery.
