Retrospective Comparison of Diamond Burr Debridement as a Treatment for Non-Healing Ulcers Associated With Spontaneous Chronic Corneal Epithelial Defects, Corneal Endothelial Degeneration, and Other Concurrent Ocular Diseases.

Objective: To determine if superficial corneal ulcers related to corneal endothelial degeneration (CED) or other concurrent ophthalmic disease (COD) had significantly different healing outcomes and incidences of complications post-diamond burr debridement (DBD) compared to spontaneous chronic corneal epithelial defects (SCCEDs) undergoing DBD.

Procedures: Retrospective review of 151 dogs (155 eyes) with non-healing, superficial corneal ulcers that underwent a DBD. Variables evaluated included age, sex, breed, concurrent diseases, days to healing, complications, and vision status. Group 1 included dogs with true SCCEDs. Group 2 was subdivided into Group 2A and 2B, dogs with CED and COD-related ulcers, respectively.

Results: A single DBD was effective in 88% of SCCEDs, 55% of CED-associated ulcers, and 72% of COD-associated ulcers at the first recheck exam at 2 weeks. There was no difference in keratomalacia following the procedure between group 1 and 2A (p = 0.34) and no cases of keratomalacia occurred in group 2B. Additional procedures were required in 12% of SCCEDs, 44% of CED-associated ulcers, and 28% of COD-associated ulceration to facilitate healing.

Conclusion: A single DBD is an effective treatment for SCCEDs and can be effective for CED and COD associated ulcers; however, CED and COD associated ulcers are more likely to require repeated DBD or additional procedures to facilitate healing.