Intracorneal hemorrhage in 19 dogs (22 eyes) from 2000 to 2010: a retrospective study

The aim of this retrospective study is to review clinical data on patients that suffered intracorneal hemorrhage (ICH), and the veterinary and human literature available for this condition.

A search for ICH was performed within the clinical database of the Animal Health Trust. Nineteen cases were identified (22 eyes).

The patient's age, breed, and gender were reviewed, together with etiology, location, treatment, and follow-up. The relevant data were compared with the Animal Health Trust (AHT) ophthalmology referral population for the same period of time (n=5555).

Twenty-two eyes were affected. No breed or sex predisposition could be identified. Patients aged 10 years and above were more frequently affected when compared with the AHT ophthalmology referral population. ICH was recorded in all corneal quadrants, with the mid-peripheral cornea more often affected. Areas of corneas affected by the ICH showed long-term loss of transparency. Ocular diseases as a source of neovascularization varied from ocular surface to intraocular disease. Systemic diseases were investigated in some patients, and no concomitant disease could be linked to the development of ICH.

Intracorneal hemorrhage is a rare condition associated with corneal neovasculature. As in the human ophthalmology literature, ICH could not be linked to a specific ocular or systemic disease. Severe complications described in humans with this condition, such as pupillary block or corneal perforation, were not seen in any of these canine patients. Canine ICH seem to reabsorb with time, with or without medical treatment. Surgical treatment was not required in any of our patients.