Management of mycotic keratitis in a horse using a conjunctival pedicle graft

Cryopreservation (−20 °C) of feline corneoscleral tissue: histologic, microbiologic, and ultrastructural study

“…Some of these cases may need surgical treatment to resolve keratectomy/sclerectomy, with or without tectonic support, are the most common procedures. This structural support can be achieved by means of conjunctival grafts, biomaterials, corneoscleral transpositions, or keratoplasties/scleroplasties …”

Porcine urinary bladder extracellular matrix grafts (ACell Vet®Corneal Discs) for keratomalacia in 17 equids (2012–2013)

“…Conjunctival pedicles remain an effective biomaterial for surgical repair of the cornea in veterinary species, achieving both functional and anatomical success . Conjunctiva lends excellent structural integrity to a compromised cornea and provides blood vessels to an otherwise avascular region, delivering nutrients for epithelial proliferation, protective leukocytes, antibodies, anticollagenase compounds, and systemic antimicrobials . However, conjunctival flaps are opaque, produce unpredictable and potentially extensive corneal fibrosis, and may severely impair optical clarity when lesions are large or graft resection impractical …”

“…[19][20][21] Conjunctiva lends excellent structural integrity to a compromised cornea and provides blood vessels to an otherwise avascular region, delivering nutrients for epithelial proliferation, protective leukocytes, antibodies, anticollagenase compounds, and systemic antimicrobials. 1,21 However, conjunctival flaps are opaque, produce unpredictable and potentially extensive corneal fibrosis, and may severely impair optical clarity when lesions are large or graft resection impractical. 11,22 Amniotic membrane transplants are used in similar fashion to conjunctival pedicles, but they may provide increased tectonic support as well as improved postoperative optical clarity, rapid epithelial migration across a bare basement membrane, and endogenous anti-angiogenic, antiprotease, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic cytokines and growth factors that prevent corneal melting and scarring through various molecular mechanisms.…”

Cryopreservation (−20 °C) of canine corneoscleral tissue: histological, microbiological, and ultrastructural study

“…Corneal grafting is considered as the only available technique to successfully restore corneal transparency in some aggressive corneal dystrophies, burns, herpesvirus opacities, tumors, etc . Conversely, in veterinary medicine corneal grafting is still hardly used and often replaced by other techniques …”