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Subconjunctivally implanted micro-osmotic pumps for continuous ocular treatment in horses
M J Blair1, J R Gionfriddo, L M Polazzi
1Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907-1248, USA.
Objective:
To evaluate the feasibility of using a subconjunctivally implanted micro-osmotic pump for continuous delivery of medication to the eyes of horses- during a 7-day period.
Animals:
4 healthy adult horses.
Procedure:
With horses restrained in a standing position, micro-osmotic pumps were implanted subconjunctivally in each eye for 7 days. The treatment eye received an atropine-loaded micro-osmotic pump (100 microl of 1.5% atropine), and the contralateral eye received a sterile saline-loaded pump (100 microl of 0.9% NaCl) as a control treatment. Pupil size was measured at 12-hour intervals until values returned to baseline.
Results:
The micro-osmotic pumps were tolerated and did not migrate or become dislodged. During the 7-day treatment period, pupils were significantly larger in the eyes implanted with atropine-loaded pumps, compared with saline-implanted control eyes.
Conclusions And Clinical Relevance:
Micro-osmotic pumps were implanted and removed easily from standing horses and were not associated with complications during the 7-day treatment period. Therefore, subconjunctivally implanted micro-osmotic pumps can potentially be used when treating ophthalmic disease in horses.