Comparative characteristics of methods for treating spontaneous chronic defects of the corneal epithelium in dogs

Background: spontaneous chronic corneal epithelial defects (SCCED) are common in dogs, they are characterized by superficial erosions and resistant to medications. Purpose: to compare effectiveness of superficial keratectomy and grid keratotomy alone and combinations of each of these techniques with diamond bur for SCCED. Materials and methods: the study included 63 dogs with this pathology, divided in groups: group 1 – treated by superficial keratectomy (n=15), group 2 – by grid keratotomy (n=14), group 3 – by combination of superficial keratectomy and diamond burr debidement (n=19), group 4 - with combination of grid keratotomy and diamond burr debidement (n=15). Results: 14 days after surgery, area of primary defect was completely epithelialized in group 1 - 93.3% of cases, in group 2 - 85.7%, group 3 - 100%, group 4 - 93.3%. New epithelial defects were present in group 1 in 60% of cases, group 2 – 50%, group 3 – 5.2%, group 4 – 6.7%. The time for complete healing of the cornea in group 1 was 19.9±5.3 days, group 2 – 19.4±6.5 days, group 3 – 14.8±3.7 days, in group 4 – 15.5 ±4.4 days. In groups 3 and 4, incidence of new corneal defects was statistically significantly less than in groups 1 and 2, and statistically significant decrease in healing time was found in groups 3 and 4 compared to groups 1 and 2. Conclusion: diamond burr debidement of the entire cornea in combination with superficial keratectomy or grid keratotomy is effective method for treating SCCED and it reduces healing time by an average of 4 days.