Retrospective Comparison of Diamond Burr Debridement as a Treatment for Non-Healing Ulcers Associated With Spontaneous Chronic Corneal Epithelial Defects, Corneal Endothelial Degeneration, and Other Concurrent Ocular Diseases.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if superficial corneal ulcers related to corneal endothelial degeneration (CED) or other concurrent ophthalmic disease (COD) had significantly different healing outcomes and incidences of complications post-diamond burr debridement (DBD) compared to spontaneous chronic corneal epithelial defects (SCCEDs) undergoing DBD.

PROCEDURES: Retrospective review of 151 dogs (155 eyes) with non-healing, superficial corneal ulcers that underwent a DBD. Variables evaluated included age, sex, breed, concurrent diseases, days to healing, complications, and vision status. Group 1 included dogs with true SCCEDs. Group 2 was subdivided into Group 2A and 2B, dogs with CED and COD-related ulcers, respectively.

RESULTS

A single DBD was effective in 88% of SCCEDs, 55% of CED-associated ulcers, and 72% of COD-associated ulcers at the first recheck exam at 2 weeks. There was no difference in keratomalacia following the procedure between group 1 and 2A (p = 0.34) and no cases of keratomalacia occurred in group 2B. Additional procedures were required in 12% of SCCEDs, 44% of CED-associated ulcers, and 28% of COD-associated ulceration to facilitate healing.

CONCLUSION

A single DBD is an effective treatment for SCCEDs and can be effective for CED and COD associated ulcers; however, CED and COD associated ulcers are more likely to require repeated DBD or additional procedures to facilitate healing.