Penetrating ocular gunshot injury in a Labrador Retriever

Removal of an anterior chamber foreign body using hydropulsion and ophthalmic viscoelastic device capture in a dog

OBJECTIVE

To describe the removal of an adherent, presumed plant-based, anterior chamber foreign body (ACFB) from the inferior iridocorneal angle in a dog using hydropulsion and ophthalmic viscoelastic device (OVD) capture.

ANIMAL STUDIED

A 6-year-old female spayed pit bull terrier who was referred for further evaluation of a corneal opacity after being observed running into a thorned succulent plant 1 month earlier. On ophthalmic examination, no corneal foreign body was noted, though mild uveitis was present. Gonioscopy revealed a suspected plant foreign body (thorn tip) in the inferior iridocorneal angle.

PROCEDURE

Under general anesthesia, the ACFB was dislodged from the inferior iridocorneal angle using hydropulsion with balanced salt solution. The superior half of the anterior chamber had been filled with 2% hydroxypropyl methylcellulose OVD to trap the foreign object. One month later, the uveitis had resolved and repeat gonioscopy confirmed the absence of any ACFB in the iridocorneal angle.

CONCLUSION

In the absence of an intraoperative goniolens or endoscopy, hydropulsion and OVD capture of adherent ACFBs may be a feasible option for removal.