Equine pectinate ligament descemetization is associated with age

Purpose

To evaluate the correlation between equine pectinate ligament descemetization and ocular disease.

Methods

The pathology database of the North Carolina State University Veterinary Medical Center was searched from 2010–2021 for all equine globes. Disease status was then assigned as affected by glaucoma, uveitis, or “other” based upon clinical records. The iridocorneal angles (ICA) of each globe were evaluated for the presence of pectinate ligament descemetization, the length of descemetization, as well as for the degree of angle collapse and the extent of cellular infiltrate or proteinaceous debris. One slide from each eye was evaluated by two separate, blinded investigators (HW & TS).

Results

A total of 66 eyes from 61 horses were identified, with a total of 124 sections of ICA of sufficient quality to review. 16 horses were affected by uveitis, 8 by glaucoma, 7 by both glaucoma and uveitis, and 30 horses by other ocular disease, most commonly ocular surface disease or neoplasia, which served as controls. Pectinate ligament descemetization was most prevalent in the control group compared to the glaucoma and uveitis groups. Pectinate ligament descemetization length was positively correlated with age, with an increase of 13.5 μm per year of age (p = .016). Infiltrate scores and angle closure scores were higher in both the glaucoma and uveitis group compared to the control group (p < .001).

Conclusions

Equine pectinate ligament descemetization appears to be correlated with increased age and should not be used as a histologic marker for the presence of glaucoma.