This 8 year old thoroughbred has a persistent but shallow corneal ulcer. What might be stopping it healing and how might we treat it?
Look at the edge of the ulcer – there under-running of fluorescein beyond the edge of the epithgelial defect that shows an annulus of non-adherent epithelium just as in this dog with a similar sort of non-healing ulcer. This needs to be removed by debridement before the ulcer will heal. A grid keratotomy may also be needed as may protection of the corneal surface with a contact lens.