A cat who was suffering from a partially dead cornea was fortunate enough to have her sight saved thanks to the efforts of veterinary ophthalmologists. The procedure involved the implantation of a frozen dog cornea into her eye. This condition is commonly referred to as corneal sequestration in medical terms and is most commonly seen in specific cat breeds such as Persian, Exotic, British, Maine Coon and “naked”. Interestingly, the disease rarely affects dogs. According to Sergey Luzhetsky, a veterinarian-ophthalmologist, this successful surgery gives hope to other pets who are suffering from similar eye conditions.

The exact cause of corneal sequestration in cats is not yet fully understood, and there are multiple theories. Certain breeds, such as Maine Coons and hairless cats, may experience irritation from hair and skin due to upturned eyelids, leading to the development of the condition. Other breeds, such as Persians, Exotics, and Brachycephals, may experience dryness in the cornea due to the specific properties of tears, bulging, and medial torsion of the eyelids. Additionally, feline herpes virus can be a cause. Symptoms of the disease include discomfort, excessive tearing, and cloudiness in the cornea, with the final stage resulting in dead and blackened tissue. Unfortunately, there is no therapeutic treatment available for corneal sequestration, and only surgical options exist. During surgery, the affected area is excised under a microscope and covered with either the animal’s own tissues or donor implants, depending on the location and depth of the lesion. If the defect is shallow and in a peripheral location, almost any tissue of the body can be used to close it, with the most common being the animal’s own cornea or conjunctiva. However, this method results in an opaque flap. If the defect is located in the center of the eye, a flap of the animal’s own cornea from the peripheral part of the eye is transferred to the defect site, and the “donor” site is closed with conjunctiva.

In treating animals with a sequester in the center of the eye, a surgical method is commonly used, which has a success rate of 99%. This procedure ensures that the animal’s cornea is not rejected, as stem cells are transferred along with the flap, promoting the healing process. However, there are cases where this method is not suitable, such as when the eye’s defect is too large. In these situations, ophthalmologists use alternative techniques, one being the use of a frozen donor implant. Such a technique was used to treat Josephine, a ten-month-old British ticked cat, whose eye condition did not improve after being treated in seven veterinary clinics. Josephine’s surgeon used a donor frozen dog cornea, as collagen fibers, which make up the cornea, are the same in composition for everyone. Collagen does not have antigenic activity, making the donor material not an issue. The operation was successful, performed under general anesthesia, and three weeks after the transplant, Josephine’s eye is comfortably open.

Ksenia, the owner of Josephine, expressed her satisfaction with the outcome of the treatment and thanked the surgeons and anesthesiologists who participated in the operation. According to Ksenia, Josephine is doing well after the procedure and has now returned to her normal life of running and jumping around. The pet’s recovery has brought immense joy to Ksenia and her household.