Eversion of the nictitans membranes in a Spanish purebred foal: Diagnosis, surgical correction and outcome

Abstract

A 2‐month‐old, Spanish, purebred foal was presented with bilateral eversion of the nictitans membranes. The foal was assessed and surgery performed at the age of 4 months. Standing surgery was performed in order to dissect and resect the everted cartilage and achieve a normal position of both nictitating membranes. Local anaesthesia was achieved using periocular regional anaesthesia and a sub‐nictitans block under each nictitans membrane. This helped control surgical discomfort of the patient and avoided, in this patient, retraction of the globe. Immediately postoperatively, the nictitans membranes were in normal anatomic position. The patient was evaluated 10 months later and both nictitans membranes remained in situ and with normal dorsotemporal gliding movement over each eye.