Objective: To investigate ocular factors that influence the development of corneal calcareous degeneration (CCD) in dogs.
Animals and procedures: The medical records of 96 eyes of dogs with CCD and 288 eyes without CCD were retrospectively reviewed. Dogs with evidence of causative systemic illness associated with CCD were excluded from the study. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the ocular factors associated with the development of CCD. To identify the effect of phosphate-containing eyedrops on CCD, the application periods of phosphate-containing antiglaucoma eyedrops were compared between the glaucomatous eyes in the CCD and non-CCD groups.
Results: Increased age, brachycephalic breed, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, advanced cataract, history of phacoemulsification, and topical corticosteroid application were significantly associated with CCD development. Glaucoma was significantly overrepresented in the non-CCD group, and the application period of phosphate-containing antiglaucoma eyedrops was significantly longer in eyes with CCD than in those without CCD.
Conclusions: Ophthalmic diseases requiring long-term management of ocular inflammation and long-term application of phosphate-containing eyedrops may contribute to the development of CCD. Glaucoma is overrepresented in dogs without CCD, which is thought to be due to the differences in predisposed age and breeds between dogs with glaucoma and CCD.
Keywords: chronic ocular inflammation; corneal calcareous degeneration; corticosteroids; dog; ocular surface damage; phosphate-containing eyedrops.
© 2023 The Authors. Veterinary Ophthalmology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.