Title: Feline corneal sequestrum

{{Short description|Eye disease of cats}}
'''Feline corneal sequestrum''' (also known as '''feline corneal necrosis''')&lt;ref name=&quot;Slatter5&quot;&gt;{{cite book |last1=Maggs |first1=David |last2=Miller |first2=Paul |last3=Ofri |first3=Ron |title=Slatter's Fundamentals of Veterinary Ophthalmology |date=2013 |publisher=Elsevier |isbn=9780323241960 |edition=5th |chapter=Feline corneal sequestrum |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8QCduRN3zR0C&amp;pg=PA210}}&lt;/ref&gt; is the development of dark areas of [[dead tissue]] in the [[cornea]] of [[domestic cats]].&lt;ref&gt;{{Cite journal |title=Feline corneal sequestra: a review of 64 cases (80 eyes) from 1993 to 2000 |last=Featherstone |first=Heidi J. |last2=Sansom |first2=Jane |journal = Veterinary Ophthalmology|volume = 7|issue = 4|date=July 2004 |pages=213–227 |doi=10.1111/j.1463-5224.2004.04028.x |pmid=15200618 }}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{Cite web |url=https://bluepearlvet.com/medical-articles-for-pet-owners/feline-corneal-sequestrum/ |title=Feline Corneal Sequestrum: BluePearl Pet Hospital |date=2017-10-16 |website=BluePearl |publisher=[[BluePearl Veterinary Partners]] |access-date=2019-12-15}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{Cite journal |title=Corneal grafting for the treatment of feline corneal sequestrum: a retrospective study of 18 eyes (13 cats) |last=Laguna |first=Fernando |last2=Leiva |first2=Marta |date=July 2015 |journal=Veterinary Ophthalmology |pages=291–296 |doi=10.1111/vop.12228 |pmid=25338923 |last3=Costa |first3=Daniel |last4=Lacerda |first4=Rodrigo |last5=Peña Gimenez |first5=Teresa|volume=18 |issue=4 }}&lt;/ref&gt; This disease is painful to the cat, although it develops slowly over a longer period of time. Cats will usually demonstrate teary eye(s), squinting or closing of the eye(s), and covering of the third eyelid.

== Presentation ==
The affected area of the cornea develops a brown discoloration.&lt;ref name=&quot;Esson&quot; /&gt; The area surrounding the sequestrum may have superficial ulceration.&lt;ref name=&quot;Slatter5&quot; /&gt; The corneal sequestrum is painful, and the cat may show this by squinting or closing the eye ([[blepharospasm]]).&lt;ref name=&quot;Esson&quot; /&gt;

== Causes ==
The cause of corneal sequestra is unknown.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite web |title=Feline Corneal Sequestra |url=http://animaleyecare.net/diseases/feline_sequestra/ |website=Animal Eye Care |access-date=2019-11-30 |archive-date=2019-11-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191109200724/http://animaleyecare.net/diseases/feline_sequestra/ |url-status=dead }}&lt;/ref&gt; A sequestrum in the cornea usually develops following long term (chronic) ulceration of the cornea. [[Feline viral rhinotracheitis]] (previously known as Feline herpes virus&lt;ref name=&quot;Herpesviridae&quot;&gt;{{cite web |title=ICTV 9th Report (2011) ''Herpesviridae'' |url=https://talk.ictvonline.org/ictv-reports/ictv_9th_report/dsdna-viruses-2011/w/dsdna_viruses/91/herpesviridae |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181222034214/https://talk.ictvonline.org/ictv-reports/ictv_9th_report/dsdna-viruses-2011/w/dsdna_viruses/91/herpesviridae |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 22, 2018 |website=International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) |access-date=2019-11-30}}&lt;/ref&gt;) is often found in cats with a corneal sequestrum.&lt;ref name=&quot;Slatter5&quot; /&gt;

== Prevention ==
As the cause is not known, it is difficult to know what steps to take to prevent this from occurring. However, keep the eyes clean and seek veterinary attention if an eye is cut, scratched or irritated. 

== Treatment ==
Lubricating eye drops are usually given in the first instance of feline corneal sequestra, yet if the eye continues to irritate the cat or becomes worse, surgical removal is usually required. Once the removal of the corneal sequestrum is complete, cats will usually remain on lubricating eye drops for the rest of their lives. The disease often reoccurs in cats who have already experienced this problem. 

==Epidemiology==
Any breed of cat may develop a corneal sequestrum, although [[Persian cat|Persian]]s, [[Exotic Shorthair|Exotic Shorthairs]] and [[Himalayan cat|Himalayans]] may be more susceptible to developing sequestra than other breeds of cat.&lt;ref name=&quot;Esson&quot;&gt;{{cite book |last1=Esson |first1=Douglas W. |title=Clinical Atlas of Canine and Feline Ophthalmic Disease |date=2015 |publisher=John Wiley &amp; Sons |isbn=9781118841044 |page=138 |chapter=Chapter 65. Feline corneal sequestrum |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PsjvCQAAQBAJ&amp;pg=PA138}}&lt;/ref&gt;

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Cat diseases]]

{{Domestic cat}}