VN March 2023

Vetnews | March 2023 39 The remaining conjunctiva was sutured over the implant using 6/0 Vycril. The patient was also dewormed with Ivermectin. Histopathology was done, and it was very suspicious for Habronemiasis, but no organisms were present. His ocular discharge cleared up, and his eye remained normal for 18 months after the clinical symptoms recurred. It was expected as the implant only lasts for plus or minus 400 days. A follow implant can be done without any complications. Episcleral cyclosporine implants offer a very practical and effective alternative to topical medication in certain ocular immune- mediated diseases. These implants are locally available through Vetscripts: info@verscripts.co.za For more information regarding the indication and use of these implants, please feel free to contact me, Izak Venter, at: consult@dvos.co.za References: 1 Barachetti L, Rampazzo A, Mortellaro CM, et al. Use of episcleral cyclosporine implants in dogs with keratoconjunctivitis sicca: pilot study. Veterinary Ophthalmology 2015: 18 ( 3): 234–241 2 Gilger BC, Stoppini R, Wilkie DA Treatment of immune-mediated keratitis in horses with episcleral silicone matrix cyclosporine delivery devices. Veterinary Ophthalmology 2014; 17 (Supplement 1): 23–30 3 Horowitz IH, Dubielzig RR, Botero-Anug AM, et al. Conjunctival habronemiasis in a square-lipped rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum). Veterinary Ophthalmology. 2016; 19(2): 161-166 v Technical I Ophthalmology Column The first mission of DVOS is to create a platform for the general practitioner veterinary surgeon to improve their ophthalmological knowledge and enable them to deal with ocular cases with more confidence. This will be done with online courses allowing participants to download course material that will include written notes as well as narrated PowerPoint presentations. The first small animal course comprises of 240 pages and the PowerPoint lectures are 20 hours in total excluding a guest lecture on SARDS. I shall also make surgical videos available covering some common surgical procedures. The course is CPD accredited with the South African Veterinary council for a total of 23 CPD points. The secondmission is toprovidea service to thepracticingveterinarianofferingspecialist advice regardingproblematic cases. More information regarding both of these aims are available on the website: www.dvos.co.za Figure 2 Mucopurulent discharge secondary to conjunctival granulation.