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Clinical
Wound care

Dealing with penetrating foreign bodies in the eyes of small animals

02 July 2022
Clinical
15 mins read
02 September 2022
Volume 27 · Issue 9
Figure 2. A superficial, partially embedded corneal foreign body in a dog. This piece of plant material was forcibly rinsed from the corneal surface.
Figure 2. A superficial, partially embedded corneal foreign body in a dog. This piece of plant material was forcibly rinsed from the corneal surface.

Abstract

Foreign body injuries are a common reason for referral in veterinary ophthalmology and frequently cause blindness in patients with ocular trauma. Prognosis depends on the extent of the injury to intraocular structures, as well as the type and size of the foreign body. Treatment options range from conservative medical management to surgical intervention to remove the foreign body, address further ocular damage and achieve the best outcome for an animal's vision. This review summarises the types of ocular foreign bodies and their presentations in small animal practice, the role of diagnostic approaches and advanced imaging, treatment and outcomes.

Ocular and orbital foreign bodies require immediate treatment and urgent referral to a specialist, particularly in cases of full-thickness penetrating and perforating wounds (Maggs, 2016; Whitley and Hamor, 2021). Ocular injuries caused by accidental contact with plant material are most common in small animals (Jones, 2012; Pont et al, 2016; Wait et al, 2018). The different management options for ocular foreign bodies in small animals reflect their variable clinical presentations and range from medical management to a surgical approach (Maggs, 2016; Pont et al, 2016; Braus et al, 2017).

Ocular injuries are observed more frequently in young dogs of less than 5 years of age, as well as in hunting and working breeds such as English Springer Spaniels and Labrador Retrievers. Injuries from thorns are commonly seen in the winter months, linked to the working season for hunting dogs, but foreign bodies such as grass seeds are more common in the summer owing to the associated harvesting and holiday period (Jones, 2012; Pont et al, 2016).

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ocular foreign body
intraocular
plant material
penetrating injury
perforation
advanced imaging