Feasibility of aqueous shunts for reduction of intraocular pressure in horses

Summary This case report describes the surgical placement of a Baerveldt glaucoma shunt in the right eye of a 14‐year‐old Arabian gelding. The glaucomatous right eye was refractory to aggressive medical and repeated surgical therapies yet maintained functional vision. Despite the need for intensive post operative management and continued daily topical therapy, shunt placement surgery was successful at maintaining normotension and vision for a period of 402 days. This is the first report of long‐term successful glaucoma filtration surgery in this species. Further studies are warranted to evaluate long‐term success of glaucoma shunt placement in equine glaucoma cases.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Use of a Baerveldt gonioimplant for secondary glaucoma in a horse

Wilson¹,

Dees

Wagner

et al. 2015

“…Placement of aqueous shunts in 7 normal eyes of 4 horses resulted in a mean 38% decrease in IOP at 28 days post operatively (Townsend et al 2014). Complications associated with the aqueous shunts in the horses included corneal ulcers, hyphaema, and shallow anterior chamber (Townsend et al 2014).…”

Section: Surgical Treatmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Equine glaucoma: Where are we now?

Thomasy

Lassaline

2015

“…A recent study of the feasibility of gonioimplants for reducing IOP in horses showed that at least in normal equine eyes and in the short term, gonioimplants can decrease IOP (Townsend et al . ). In that study, IOP was significantly lower for 28 days following placement of Ahmed shunts in 7 normal eyes of 4 horses than prior to surgery.…”

mentioning

confidence: 97%

A promising surgical approach to equine glaucoma

Lassaline

2015

Summary The preceding case report by Wilson et al. (2015) describes the surgical placement of a Baerveldt glaucoma shunt in a glaucomatous equine eye that had been refractory to aggressive medical and repeated surgical therapies yet maintained functional vision. Shunt placement surgery successfully maintained vision and intraocular pressure in the normal range in the affected eye. This is the first report of long‐term successful glaucoma filtration surgery in a horse. Glaucoma shunt placement shows promise for maintaining vision and comfort in equine eyes affected with glaucoma. There is much to be learned in terms of the most appropriate implant type for the equine eye, the risk of complications such as ocular hypotony or tube fibrosis, and the utility of combination therapy with transcleral cyclophotocoagulation and implant placement, but with the report of one case in which gonioimplant placement has been associated with intraocular pressure control for over one year, further investigations appear warranted. This case provides a glimmer of hope for long‐term treatment of a painful, blinding disease that has traditionally carried a poor prognosis in horses.