OPHTHALMOLOGY
Article reprinted with permission of DVM360 - Nov , 06 2017 VETERINARY MEDICINE is a copyrighted publication of Advanstar .
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The Eyes Have it :
Conjunctivitis as a Window to the Body
What seems like ‘ simple ’ conjunctivitis may indicate something more serious , with the eyes providing a view into possible systemic disease . It ’ s also essential that veterinarians treat this common condition individually by species .
By Brad Holmberg , DVM , MS , PhD , DACVO
We ’ ve all experienced the discomfort of conjunctivitis , or “ pinkeye .” Usually the red , itchy eyes are gone after a day or two , but they can persist , driving us to the doctor for medical relief . In humans , conjunctivitis is usually allergic or infectious in nature . Treatment ranges from simple over-the-counter or at-home remedies to prescriptions for antihistamines , antivirals or antibiotics to be applied topically or even taken orally .
A 10-year-old Boston terrier that presented for a red eye . Note the swelling and redness of the conjunctiva . This was secondary to a cancerous tumor growing under the conjunctiva . A biopsy of the tissue revealed a mast cell tumor . The dog was sent to an oncologist and unfortunately had a poor prognosis for long-term survival . We might assume that conjunctivitis in companion animals is also easily diagnosed and treated , but our patients ’ eyes can provide hints to other disor-
Reviewed by : Dr Christie Boucher BVSc MMed- Vet ( Opthal ), Johannesburg Animal eye Hospital christie . boucher @ up . ac . za
ders in the body that are much more serious . Those may include inflammatory diseases , bleeding disorders or even cancer that first shows up on or in the eye .
By performing a thorough eye exam and complete diagnostics , we may find disease that will cause greater harm if allowed to go untreated . We must ensure that conjunctivitis is not a sign of something more serious
One sign , many causes
Because every animal is different and every species has unique physiology , anatomy and immune responses , we need to assess each case individually . Conjunctivitis is very common in dogs and cats , but the underlying cause and treatment options can vary greatly . That means it ’ s critical for us to diagnose cor- vet360
Issue 06 | DECEMBER 2017 | 8