Ophthalmic emergencies.

Ophthalmic emergencies are common presenting complaints in an emergency room. Most ophthalmic emergencies can be treated and stabilized until an ophthalmologist can be consulted. Most ocular emergencies involve loss of vision, compromised globe integrity, or severe ocular pain. Delay in treating true emergencies may result ina blind eye or loss of an eye. This article discusses the clinical signs,diagnosis, and treatment as well as the prognosis of some of the more common ophthalmic emergencies.     

Ophthalmic disease of fish.

Ocular disorders in fish are common and can occur as primary or secondary manifestations of systemic disease. Because most fish are sight feeders, visual impairments usually have fatal consequences for the individual fish and can lead to substantial economic losses for the client. This article encourages practitioners to perform a complete ocular examination as part of routine physical examinations in fish by providing a review of the functional anatomy of the teleostean eye, clinical work-up, ocular examination, ocular diseases, and treatment.     

Ophthalmic disease in exotic species.

This article highlights factors that must be kept in mind when dealing with species other than cats, dogs, and horses. Diseases of the eye are similar regardless of whether they occur in humans or domestic or exotic species. There are unique conditions in exotic species that reflect differences in anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and pathophysiology compared with domestic species.     

Ophthalmic emergencies

Ocular emergencies can be very intimidating for veterinarians. Most ocular emergencies can be stabilized by the veterinarian until an ophthalmologist can be consulted if necessary. Proptosis, or forward displacement of the globe, can occur secondary to any blunt trauma to the head. The two options for a proptosed eye are enucleation or replacement with tarsorrhaphy depending on the viability of the extraocular tissues and eye. Glaucoma, or increased intraocular pressure (above 35 mm Hg), is diagnosed by measuring the intraocular pressure using a Shiotz or electronic tonometer. Emergency treatment includes intravenous mannitol and topical pilocarpine. Uveitis, or inflammation of the iris, ciliary body and/or choroid, can have many underlying causes such as neoplasia, infection, lens induced, and trauma. The treatment consists of treating the underlying cause, and administering topical atropine to alleviate pain and topical corticosteroids to decrease inflammation. Corneal ulcers, or defects in the corneal epithelium, are classified according to the depth of the defect. The treatment consists of topical antibiotics and topical atropine. If the ulcer is deep, is melting, or is a descemetocele, then a third eyelid or conjunctival flap is usually necessary. The cornea should be sutured if it is perforated or lacerated. Hyphema, or blood in the anterior chamber, can occur secondary to trauma, neoplasia, infection, or a coagulapathy. The treatment consists of treating the underlying cause and topical corticosteroids with or without antibiotics.     

Ophthalmic surgical instruments

With proper training and diligent practice, many orbital, extraocular, and corneo-conjunctival surgeries can be successfully performed by the general practitioner. Specialized surgical instrumentation is necessary to achieve optimal results. This article reviews the essential surgical instruments required for these routine ophthalmic surgeries and provides guidelines for suture selection. Recommendations for handling and care of ophthalmic surgical instruments, including cleaning, sterilization, and storage, are provided.     

Ophthalmic procedures and surgery in the standing horse.

Although many ophthalmic procedures can be performed on the standing horse, the decision to perform a procedure under sedation rather than general anesthesia must be made on the basis of the temperament of the horse, severity of the injury, and skill of the veterinarian. For example, veterinarians who are not comfortable with small suture material may find accurate repair of an eyelid laceration easier after general anesthesia rather than attempting to handle this suture in a moving patient. Correct use of nerve blocks and topical anesthesia will greatly facilitate examination, diagnosis, and treatment, and, in addition, will serve to prevent further damage to the eye during these procedures.     

Common Ophthalmic Problems in Pet Rabbits

As rabbits are becoming more popular as pets and owners are willing to pay for specialized care, veterinary practitioners are required to maintain their expertise treating these animals. In recent years, ophthalmic patients have become an important part of the small mammal pet population. Ocular disorders in pet rabbits can be caused by genetic defects, congenital malformations, traumatic events, infections, housing conditions, and nutritional deficiencies. Knowledge of the species-specific anatomy and physiology forms the basis for the interpretation of findings and prevents misinterpretation of a normal state as an abnormality. The ophthalmic examination of rabbits should adhere to the same principles and techniques used for canine and feline patients, although adjustments are required because of different anatomical and physiologic features. Magnification is necessary for accurate assessment. This article summarizes the common ophthalmic disorders of pet rabbits, especially those that are unique to rabbits.     

Ophthalmic antimicrobial therapy in the horse

Effective antimicrobial therapy of infectious ocular disease in the horse may be difficult to achieve. This paper reviews the routes of delivery, the pharmacokinetics and the bioavailability of the various antimicrobial agents used in the treatment of ocular infection in the horse. The modes of action and the criteria for selection of the common antibacterial, antimycotic and antiviral drugs used are described.