Surgical Treatment of Nictitans Membrane Eversion in Dogs

Abstract

The presented study is the first retrospective evaluation of the scrolling of the third eyelid in a total of 44 dogs referred to the Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Faculty of Veterinary, Department of Surgery between 2012 and 2021 with a sudden onset of an ocular mass in the medial canthus with epiphora and conjunctival hyperemia. The clinical appearance of the patients, the treatment procedures applied, and the results were examined. A complete ophthalmological inspection revealed the cartilage eversion of the nictitating membrane in sixteen patients (24 eyes) due to the scrolling of the third eyelid and cartilage eversion accompanied by a prolapsed gland in twenty-eight patients (32 eyes). Cartilage eversion was treated by the resection of the defected cartilage portion. In cases with prolapse of the nictitans gland accompanying cartilage eversion, the Morgan pocket method was applied to reposition the prolapsed gland by resectioning the rotating cartilage. In conclusion, -taking into account the potential effect of breed, age, and gender predispositions- the therapeutic approach followed revealed satisfactory results in maintaining the functional capacity of the third eyelid in dogs with cartilage eversion of the nictitating membrane and hyperplasia of the nictitans gland.