Aberrant conjunctival stricture and overgrowth in the rabbit

Abstract

Six dwarf rabbits with unilateral (n = 2) and bilateral (n = 4) aberrant conjunctival growth underwent surgical correction. The applied technique involved centrifugal incisions of the overgrowing conjunctiva to the limbus and a transpalpebral fixation of the conjunctiva. In this way the conjunctival fornix was reconstructed. No relapses were noted within the observation period (5-72 months).

Surgical correction of aberrant conjunctival overgrowth in a rabbit: a case report

“…Aberrant conjunctival overgrowth (stricture) is a unique and unusual eye disease [1,2] and has only been observed in dwarf rabbits. It appears as a pink, double-layered, vascular membrane that overlies the full 360 degrees of the corneal rim and extends centrally.…”

“…The pink tissue is a conjunctival fold, which grows centripetally from the bulbar conjunctiva at the limbus and obscures the cornea to varying degrees [3]. It remains attached at the limbus, but the central fold of tissue moves freely over the corneal surface [3,4] without adhesions [1,4]. In cases of aberrant conjunctival overgrowth, only loose-to-moderately firm focal adhesions at the peripheral cornea have been reported [5].…”

“…Corneal oedema may present at the central conjunctival opening. Aberrant conjunctival overgrowth differs from human pterygium [1,4] and from feline symblepharon. In these two conditions, conjunctival overgrowth is intimately attached to the cornea, and the conjunctiva replaces the corneal epithelium [1].…”

Pseudopterygium: Unique Conjunctival Stricture Observed in Japanese White Rabbit

“…Reportedly, pseudopterygia tend to emerge following chemical injury, corneal ulcerations or other inflammatory problems 2 . While pterygia/pseudopterygia are rarely observed in animals, pseudopterygium-like disorders have been reported in pet Dwarf [3][4][5] , Pygmy 6 and Rex 7 rabbits. In animals, these lesions tend to assume a unique configuration, wherein the cornea is progressively covered by hyperplastic conjunctiva around the entire perimeter.…”

“…In animals, these lesions tend to assume a unique configuration, wherein the cornea is progressively covered by hyperplastic conjunctiva around the entire perimeter. Since the etiology is currently unknown, these growths/lesions are referred to using various different terms, including conjunctival strictures, pseudopterygia, conjunctival centripetalization, precorneal or epicorneal membranous occlusions, circumferential conjunctival hyperplasia and placation and conjunctival hyperplasia 5,8 . In a toxicological study, we recently encountered a rabbit with a lesion consistent with the characteristics of pseudopterygia.…”