A preclinical study was performed to investigate the efficacy and safety of a new viral inactivated, devitalized, freeze-dried and gamma-sterilized human umbilical cord amniotic membrane (lhUC-AM) for the treatment of deep scleral and corneal defects with or without perforation. Firstly, lhUC-AM was investigated on experimental deep sclerectomy in rabbit eyes (n = 12) and compared to autograft (n = 4) on cross section histology. Secondly, lhUC-AM was studied on a selected series of uncontrolled cases of corneal defects (n = 18) with or without perforation, in dogs and cats. lhUC-AM tolerance, reconstruction of the deep corneal lesion and recovery of the structural aspect of the tissue were followed post-surgery. In experimental deep sclerectomy, histology showed that the lhUC-AM was well tolerated and degraded completely in 45 days while allowing an overall quality and kinetic of scleral regeneration, similar to autograft. In the clinical situations, lhUC-AM was well tolerated, with ocular inflammatory signs quickly decreasing after surgery. Mean follow-up was 16.40 ± 11.43 months. In 15 out of 18 cases, lhUC-AM allowed ocular surface wound healing. The ocular surface was fully reconstructed three months after surgery. This study suggests a good safety and efficacy profile of lhUC-AM in the treatment of deep corneal or scleral defect in animals. This new tissue should now facilitate the treatment of severe ocular surface diseases in humans.

Purpose To report a case of feline bilateral corneal dermoids, associated with unilateral iris coloboma and bilateral choroido‐scleral colobomas in the same dorsolateral position, to describe retinographic and optical coherence tomography (OCT) characteristics, surgical outcome, and follow‐up. Animal studied A 9‐month‐old domestic shorthaired cat in which a full ophthalmoscopic examination was performed for evaluation of dermoids resulting in a diagnosis of associated iris coloboma in one eye and posterior colobomas in both eyes. Procedures Retinographies and OCT were performed under anesthesia to characterize the lesions of both fundi and allow surgical excision of the corneal dermoids. Results Ophthalmoscopy and retinographies revealed oval lesions in the dorsolateral fundi of both eyes. The lesions precisely mirrored their respective dermoids' (10‐11 h OD and 1‐2 h OS) clock positions, lacked a tapetum lucidum and choroidal vessels, and featured thin retinal vessels plunging to a posterior plane of the fundus. OCT crossline scans demonstrated preservation of retinal thickness and morphological layering in the fundic colobomas leading to the conclusion that the colobomas were purely choroido‐scleral. The outcome of the surgical excision of the dermoids was satisfactory without hair recurrence and with acceptable corneal clarity making it possible to visualize the unilateral associated iris coloboma. Follow‐ups did not reveal any fundic evolution nor retinal detachment. Conclusions Retinographies and OCT made possible the characterization of choroido‐scleral colobomas associated with corneal dermoids in this first reported case in a cat. We hypothesize that the recently described superior ocular sulcus might be the embryological link between these anomalies.

Objective The aim of this retrospective study was to review the clinical data and outcomes of patients that suffered corneal epithelial inclusion cysts (CEIC). Animals studied Thirteen eyes from 12 dogs from multiple private practices in France and Belgium, with a strong clinical of CEIC were included in the study. Results The mean age of affected dogs was 9 years. There were 9 females and 3 males. Two out of 12 dogs were Shih Tzus. Where identified, etiology was traumatic. Eleven dogs were affected unilaterally, 1 bilaterally. The cysts were single, bi‐lobulated, or tri‐lobulate, and cyst size ranged from 1 to 6 mm in diameter. Keratectomy alone was performed in seven cases, in conjunction with a conjunctival graft in three cases, a porcine small intestine mucosa graft in two cases, or an amniotic membrane graft in one case. Histopathologic findings were consistent in all eyes with a cyst located in the corneal stroma, composed of a nonkeratinized squamous epithelium delineating a lumen filled with neutrophils and desquamated epithelial cells. Surgery was curative in all cases but one, where the removal was incomplete and recurrence occurred several weeks after the surgery. Conclusion Corneal epithelial inclusion cysts is a rare condition, secondary to corneal trauma, which can be treated successfully with conventional keratectomy alone or in conjunction with graft procedures.