Corneal Sequestration

What is corneal sequestration? Corneal sequestration is a rare but painful eye disease affecting the cornea (the clear portion) in felines. It is commonly referred to as a corneal black spot. The center of the cornea appears brown or black clouded due to dead corneal tissue. Corneal ulcers will occur at the same time.

How does my cat get corneal sequestration? What causes corneal sequestration is unknown, but it is commonly linked to dry eye syndrome, feline herpes infection, and injury to the cornea. There is also a genetic predisposition.

How do I know if my cat has corneal sequestration? A cat with this condition will excessively blink, squint or tear and may paw at his eyes like there is an irritation. Look closely and you may notice redness and swelling as well as protrusion of the third eyelid. You might even spot what looks like a scab on the cornea. Unchecked, it can progress over months or years and cause eye infections and possibly, eye rupture. Your veterinarian will need to perform a thorough eye examination to rule out other possible causes. A special dye is applied to the corneal to better identify lesions and ulcers.

What can I do about corneal sequestration? Antibiotics and eye lubricants may be used, but eye surgery is the most effective treatment. There is a special procedure called a partial lamellar keratectomy that consists of surgically removing the damaged surface of the cornea while the cat is under general anesthesia. In severe cases, a veterinarian may need to cover the defect with grafts of conjunctival tissues or perform a corneal transplant. Prognosis is good that the eye will have normal vision and be pain-free when the condition is addressed promptly.

Is there anything I can do to prevent my cat from getting corneal sequestration? The cause is unknown, but ensuring your cat receives regular physical examinations will help identify this condition during its early stages for more effective treatment.

Are there certain breeds that get  corneal sequestration more often? Although this eye disease can strike any cat of any age, sex and breed, it is more prevalent in Persian, Siamese, Himalayan and Burmese breeds.