Reconstruction of deep and perforating corneal defects in dogs—A review (Part III/III): The use of corneal sutures and reporting of ocular discomfort

TL;DR

This paper reviews techniques for corneal reconstruction in dogs and cats, focusing on sutures and methods to manage postoperative pain.

Contribution

The paper introduces practical suture techniques for burying corneal knots in small animals.

Findings

Various suture types and patterns are used in corneal reconstruction for small animals.

Postoperative ocular discomfort is commonly reported and managed with specific treatments.

Techniques like 'tugging' and 'deep-superficial-superficial-deep' are effective for burying corneal knots.

Abstract

The surgical reconstruction of severe corneal disease is a common and crucial component of the clinical practice of veterinary ophthalmology. The first part of the present review described procedures that utilize autogenous ocular tissues, homologous donor tissues, and heterologous donor tissues in dogs, while the second part reviewed the use of biomaterials and keratoprosthetics in this species. This third part is dedicated to the review of the use of corneal sutures including suture type and suture pattern in corneal reconstruction of small animals including dogs and cats. The review also focused on the way studies report postoperative ocular discomfort/pain and how this is treated. Lastly, the author briefly presents the simple but effective techniques available to bury corneal knots for corneal reconstructive surgery in small animal patients, such as the “tugging” and “deep‐superficial‐superficial‐deep” methods for simple interrupted sutures, and the adaptation of the latter for simple continuous sutures.