Equine amniotic membrane transplantation in corneal perforation resulting from melting ulcer in a dog

A 4-year-old castrated male Shih-Tzu was presented to the Chonbuk National University Animal Medical Center with a history of melting ulcer in the right eye (OD). Upon ophthalmologic examination, severe keratomalacia of approximately 70% of the entire surface area with a full thickness corneal defect was found in OD. In addition, iris and fibrin clots were observed on the center of the corneal defect. The menace response and dazzle reflex were normal in OS. As the size and damage of corneal perforation was so severe, amniotic membrane (AM) transplantation was considered to repair the cornea instead of direct suture technique, flap methods or corneal transplantation. Equine AM was sutured to the limbus to cover the entire cornea in a single interrupted pattern using 9-0 nylon suture material. On day 79, mild scarring and pigmentation, with almost no vasculature, remained. The menace response and dazzle reflex were normal of OD. Although pigmentation and scarring remained on the cornea, equine AM transplantation can be useful for reconstruction of severe corneal perforation with keratomalacia.