Application and Evaluation of Full-thickness Keratoplasty for the Management of Irreparable Corneal Affections in Dogs

Background: Corneal transplant or full-thickness keratoplasty (FTKP) is considered as last line of treatment for severely damaged or opaque corneas where other treatment protocol could not be effective. There is lack of previous literature based on Indian context for corneal transplant in dogs hence present study was planned, cases of irreparable corneas were selected, operated and technique along with outcomes was evaluated. Methods: Total six clinical cases (n=6) of irreparable corneal diseases in different breeds of dogs were selected after complete necessary preoperative examinations including ophthalmological tests and ocular ultrasound. Healthy corneas were harvested along with sclera rim from dogs euthanized for untreatable conditions like trauma and systemic diseases. After collection, corneal tissue was stored in an air-tight container within ‘MK-medium.All the cases were operated successfully under general anaesthesia. Both fresh and frozen grafts were utilized for cornea transplant. Result: The mean value of donor graft size was 9.58±0.49 mm whereas recipient’s lesions size was 6.87±1.22 mm. The mean value of operative time was recorded as 73.33±14.25 minutes. Sutures used to affix donor graft with recipient’s bed ranged from 6 to 12 in numbers. After cornea transplant, only 2-eyes remained visual (due to surrounding transparent window) with 100% graft rejection in this study. Efficacy of this technique was determined by dividing the number of cases with visual outcomes to the total number of the eyes operated. Severe graft reaction, graft rejection, graft opacity, graft melanosis and development of post-surgical cataract were reported as postoperative complications.