Some ulcers will heal on their own. But some are tricky and want to stick around on your pet’s eyes. This is called a Spontaneous Chronic Corneal Epithelial Defect (SCCED), which occurs when a scratch, poke, or abrasion is affected by a problem with the healing mechanism.
So…what’s next?
A procedure/surgical intervention is likely needed. However, don’t worry, as this is a common occurrence, often spontaneous, and with no known cause. There are three different treatments, and we can determine which is right for your pet at our office.
Cotton Swab Debridement
This is the least invasive procedure and is performed with a Q-Tip. Potential infections with this method are less common; however, it only has a 50% success rate.
Diamond Burr/Needle Debridement
This option is more effective with a 70-80% success rate. It’s more aggressive at treating the acellular, non-healing zone, but complications can include a rare corneal infection or non-healing/need for repeat procedure.
Superficial Keratectomy
Performed under general anesthesia, this procedure has a 99% success rate. It’s often the route we go if the first two non-invasive treatments don’t work out.
If your pet could benefit from a visit with us, book an appointment, and we can take a look.
