Use of a nictitating membrane flap for treatment of feline acute corneal hydrops-21 eyes.

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effectiveness of the use of a nictitating membrane flap (NMF) as therapy in 19 cats (21 eyes) affected with feline acute corneal hydrops (FACH). METHODS:Medical records from 19 cats diagnosed with FACH and treated with a NMF were retrospectively evaluated. Information was collected from multiple veterinary hospitals and included signalment, medical history, therapy, and ocular outcome. RESULTS:Breeds included 13 Domestic Shorthairs, 2 Exotic Shorthairs, 2 Maine Coons, 1 Persian, and 1 Domestic Medium Hair. Two cats were bilaterally affected. Median age of cats was 3.2 years (range 0.26-15 years). Eleven patients were spayed females, 6 were neutered males, and 2 were intact males. Topical steroids were previously administered in 5 (23.8%) eyes; oral steroids were previously administered in 7 cats (36.8% of patients); three patients received both oral and topical steroids. Thirteen of 21 (61.9%) eyes had a history of ocular disease including ulcerative and nonulcerative keratitis, anterior uveitis, corneal sequestrum, conjunctivitis, and glaucoma. Median duration of NMF was 15 days (range 6-30 days). Follow-up ranged from 12 to 1601 days (median 169 days). Corneal perforation occurred in 1 (4.7%) eye and was successfully repaired. One lesion (4.7%) in a diabetic patient did not resolve. Nineteen of the treated eyes (90.5%) resolved with no complications. CONCLUSIONS:A nictitating membrane flap successfully treated 90.5% of FACH eyes (89.5% of patients).