A Case of Prolapsed Third Eyelid Gland in a Two Month Old Bull Mastiff

Abstract

Aim: To report the case of a prolapsed third eyelid gland in a bull mastiff in which surgical treatment using modified pocket technique was performed. Presentation: A two month old, male, bull mastiff weighing 30 kg was presented with a pinkish fleshy mass of tissue protruding from the medial canthus of the left eye, conjunctivitis and ocular discharges. The condition was confirmed to be a prolapse of the third eyelid gland following clinical examination. The surgical reposition of the prolapsed gland using pocket technique was done. Discussion: Cherry eye may occur secondary to inflammation and weakness of the supporting ligament that attaches the gland to its anatomical position. Surgical correction of the prolapse using Case Study

Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences

“…Despite the several theories suggested for the disorder's causative factors, including congenital or hereditary defects, connective tissue weakness between the glands and the eyelids, secondary inflammation, and rotation of the third eyelid or cartilage, the etiology of the lesion is currently not fully elucidated. The gland hyperplasia was also associated with the cartilage eversion (Schoofs 1999, Dehghan et al 2012, Ukwueze et al 2015, Singh et al 2017). In the study, all cases manifested cartilage eversion in addition to the third eyelid gland hyperplasia.…”

“…The nictitans gland hyperplasia or prolapse, referred to as "cherry eye", is one of the most common third eyelid disorders in dogs (Mazzucchelli et al 2012, Udegbunam et al 2012, Vani and Lakshmi 2016), yet rarely seen in cats (Dehghan et al 2012, Williams et al 2012, Maggs 2013, Chahory et al 2014, Ukwueze et al 2015. This lesion may develop unilaterally or bilaterally, leading to deformations in the third eyelid cartilage or even cartilage rotation on some occasions (Mazzucchelli et al 2012).…”

“…The age distribution is different in cats than in dogs (Chahory et al 2014). The condition is common, especially in young dogs under two years of age (Dehghan et al 2012, Mazzucchelli et al 2012, Ukwueze et al 2015, Singh et al 2017, while the age range of cats varies (Singh et al 2017). A few available reported studies describing the condition in cats pointed out the likelihood of congenital ocular anomalies as the underlying cause in two kittens (Chahory et al 2014), whereas a higher prevalence was noted in adult cats aged 1-4 years (Ford and Mazzaferro 2012).…”

“…Two common methods, such as anchoring techniques and embedding in pockets, are used for gland repositioning (Akın and Samsar 2005, Sağlıyan and Günay 2018) aimed either at fixing the gland with sutures or inserting the gland in a pocket, respectively, so that tear production remains intact. Embedding techniques proved to be highly efficacious in avoiding tear production-related complications; however, decreased eyelid movements, re-prolapse of the gland, cysts formations were also reported in dogs after the procedure, which even necessitated subsequent gland removal (Georgescu et al 2015, Ukwueze et al 2015. Furthermore, these methods were reported to have caused tissue damage on the eyelid's bulbar surface and glandular ducts (Georgescu et al 2015).…”

“…It is connected periorbitally to the eye's inner angle by a fibrous conjunctival fold (Akın and Samsar 2005). It plays an essential role in moistening the ocular surface by producing and distributing tears and mechanically protecting the eyes by clearing debris from the surface (Allbaugh and Sturh 2013, Ergin et al 2014, Ukwueze et al 2015, Vani and Lakshmi 2016. This structure, which can be seen freely moving on the edge of the lower eyelid, consists of a T-shaped elastic cartilaginous layer rendering rigidity to the membrane, the nictitans gland, which produces a seromucous secretion, located vertically towards the base of the cartilage, and the lymphoid follicles which are located more vastly on the bulbar surface (Akın andSamsar 2005, Linn Pearl 2016).…”