Successful treatment of distichiasis in a cat using transconjunctival electrocautery

Abstract

A 2-year-old male castrated Domestic Short-haired cat presented to the Ophthalmology Service at the Matthew J. Ryan Veterinary Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania for evaluation of chronic bilateral ocular discharge and blepharospasm. Initial ophthalmic examination revealed severe conjunctivitis and keratitis and the presence of upper eyelid distichiae bilaterally. Initial therapy for suspected feline herpesviral infection provided moderate, but not complete, resolution of the clinical signs. Over the subsequent year, the cat suffered from recurrent, severe, ulcerative keratitis in both eyes despite appropriate medical therapy. Approximately 13 months after the initial presentation, the distichiae were surgically removed using transconjunctival electrocautery, which resulted in complete resolution of the clinical signs. This report documents bilateral distichiasis in a cat, a condition that is considered rare in this species.

Evaluation of transconjunctival thermal electrocautery for treatment of canine distichiasis: 88 eyelids (2013‐2016)

“…Distichia are abnormal hairs originating from ectopic hair follicles in the tarsus and erupting through the meibomian gland openings at the free lid margin . These hairs are most often bilateral, affect the upper eyelid, and occur in the pure‐bred dog . Cocker Spaniels, English Bulldogs, and Poodles are particularly predisposed to distichia .…”

“…Distichiasis has been reported in dogs as young as 6 weeks old and most commonly affects dogs ranging in age from 4 months to 8 years . Distichiasis is considered an inherited condition, although its exact mode of inheritance is unknown . Research regarding its heritability in Tibetan Terriers and English Cocker Spaniels suggests that selective breeding could be used to reduce the incidence of distichia in those breeds .…”

“…Research regarding its heritability in Tibetan Terriers and English Cocker Spaniels suggests that selective breeding could be used to reduce the incidence of distichia in those breeds . Its presence in other species is rare, but has been reported in the ferret, cat, and horse …”

“…Manual epilation can be performed with direct illumination and patient cooperation . This form of treatment is temporary as distichia will regrow from the follicle within the normal growth cycle of approximately 4‐5 weeks, but epilation can be useful to verify the cause of irritation . Surgical treatment of distichia aims to be a more permanent solution for removal of the hair and its associated follicle and requires sedation or general anesthesia, adequate magnification, and increased microsurgical skill…”

Treatment and long‐term follow‐up of distichiasis, with special reference to the Friesian horse: A case series

“…Distichiasis is commonly described in man and dogs but in cats and horses it is very uncommon [1,[5][6][7][8][9][10]. In humans, distichiasis can be congenital or acquired in the setting of chronic inflammation and following chemical injuries of the eyelid [9,11].…”