Long-term clinical outcome of corneal endothelial degeneration managed with keratoleptynsis in a Chihuahua dog

Abstract

A 9-year-old spayed female Chihuahua presented with a 2-month history of progressive corneal edema in the left eye. Slit lamp biomicroscopy showed moderate corneal edema, instability of the axial corneal epithelial surface, and an anterior cortical opacity of the lens. Based on these results, a diagnosis of canine endothelial degeneration was made with the incidental finding of an incipient cataract in the left eye. Keratoleptynsis successfully managed the corneal edema for 28 months after surgery without corneal ulceration. This case study underscores the need for an early surgical approach using keratoleptynsis for dogs with a progressive nature of canine endothelial dystrophy.