Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Bilateral third eyelid ectopic cilia in an adult horse.
- Journal:
- Veterinary ophthalmology
- Year:
- 2020
- Authors:
- Chiwitt, Carolin L H et al.
- Affiliation:
- TKS Tierä · Germany
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A 15-year-old Cob mare had been experiencing watery eyes and occasional blinking spasms in her right eye for four months. A vet found two unusual hairs growing from her third eyelid, which were causing irritation and some scarring on the eye. After removing part of the third eyelid, the mare seemed to improve, but the symptoms returned two weeks later with more abnormal hairs found and removed. Eight months later, she developed similar issues in her left eye, which also had an unusual hair that was removed. Fortunately, after the last surgery, she has not had any more problems in either eye for four years.
Abstract
A 15-year-old Cob mare presented with a 4-month history of chronic epiphora and intermittent blepharospasm in the right eye. On ophthalmic examination, two translucent aberrant hairs were identified at the third eyelid margin corresponding to an area of corneal fibrosis and neovascularization. Partial excision of the third eyelid was performed, and histopathology confirmed ectopic hair follicles. Two weeks later, clinical signs recurred in the same eye. Examination revealed another pair of aberrant hairs on the bulbar surface of the third eyelid near its leading edge. This portion of the third eyelid was also excised, and histopathology confirmed two additional ectopic hair follicles. Eight months later, the horse developed similar clinical signs in the left eye. Ophthalmic examination showed a single aberrant translucent hair at the third eyelid margin associated with focal fibrosis and neovascularization of the ventromedial cornea. Partial excision of the third eyelid was performed, and histopathology confirmed an ectopic hair follicle within the third eyelid conjunctiva. Excision was curative at 4 years postoperatively with no further recurrence in either eye.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33462922/