The effects of Nd:YAG laser cyclophotocoagulation on corneal sensitivity, intraocular pressure, aqueous tear production and corneal nerve morphology in the canine eye

• Main Author: Weigt, Anne Kelley
• Other Authors: Veterinary Medical Sciences
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: Virginia Tech 2014
• Subjects: corneal sensitivity; aqueous tear production; intraocular pressure; corneal touch threshold; corneal nerve morphology; dog; cyclophotocoagulation
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10919/33583; http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-06152001-152749/

Corneal ulceration with prolonged healing following Nd:YAG laser cyclophotocoagulation in dogs is a frequent complication. It is hypothesized that these corneal ulcerations may be a form of neurotrophic keratitis due to laser-induced damage to corneal innervation. Fifteen clinically normal dogs had the neodymium:yttrium aluminum garnet(Nd:YAG) laser cyclophotocoagulation performed on the left eye. Each treated eye received 100 Joules of laser energy. Corneal touch threshold (CTT) and Schirmer I tear tests (STT) were performed before the surgery and on days 1,3,5,7,9,11, and 13 post-laser treatment. Applanation tonometry was performed before surgery and twice daily for 14 days post-laser treatment. Eyes were enucleated after 14 days and corneal nerves were stained using a gold chloride technique. Major nerve bundles entering the cornea were quantitated by quadrant, using camera lucida reproductions. Nerve bundle diameters were measured using NIH image computer software on computer-scanned images. Statistical methods included repeated values for analysis of variance for CTT, STT and IOP, and a paired t-test for nerve diameters and bundles. All laser treated eyes had significantly higher CTTs (P<0.05) compared to control eyes for all measurements. Six out of fifteen dogs had evidence of ulcerative keratitis. Intraocular pressure was significantly lower in laser treated eyes compared to control eyes in the a.m. on days 2-9,and 14, and in the p.m. on days 2-11 using a Bonferroni-corrected alpha level (P<0.0039). A significant decrease of one nerve bundle per corneal quadrant was found between the laser treated and control eyes. There was no significant difference in STT or nerve bundle diameters between laser treated and control eyes. Nd:YAG laser cyclophotocoagulation effectively reduces IOP while increasing CTT. The procedure also causes a significant decrease in the number of major nerve bundles entering the cornea, but has no effect on the diameter of those bundles. These findings support the hypothesis that nerve damage and corneal hypoesthesia are etiologic factors in ulcerative keratitis following Nd:YAG laser cyclophotocoagulation. === Master of Science