title: Comparison of corneal degeneration and calcific band keratopathy from 2000 to 2013 in 69 horses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare signalment, presentation, treatment, and outcome in horses diagnosed with corneal degeneration (CD) or calcific band keratopathy (CBK) at a referral hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-nine horses (87 eyes) diagnosed with either CD or CBK.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records of horses diagnosed with CD or CBK at the University of California-Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (UCD-VMTH) between 2000 and 2013 were reviewed. Signalment, concurrent ophthalmic diagnoses, previous therapies, diagnostic tests, systemic diagnoses, treatment, follow-up, and outcomes were compared between horses diagnosed with CD or CBK. Age, breed, and gender were compared between the CD/CBK and UCD-VMTH populations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-three horses (42 eyes) and 36 horses (45 eyes) were diagnosed with CD and CBK, respectively. Horses with CD or CBK were significantly older (P < 0.001) than the UCD-VMTH population with a median age of 16 or 18 years, respectively. Appaloosas were significantly overrepresented in the CD/CBK population (33%) in comparison with the UCD-VMTH population (1.8%, P < 0.001). Equine recurrent uveitis was concurrently diagnosed in 67% and 84% of horses with CD or CBK, respectively. Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) was diagnosed significantly less often in horses with CD vs. CBK (P = 0.03). Chemical chelation with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid was performed significantly less frequently in horses diagnosed with CD (7.1%) vs. CBK (31.1% of eyes) (P = 0.012).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite some differences, equine CD and CBK are relatively similar conditions and may represent a continuum of disease severity. Horses with PPID should be monitored closely for corneal disease including CBK.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
authors.forename: Emily H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Berryhill
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
authors.forename: Sara M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Thomasy
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Health and Reproduction, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
authors.forename: Philip H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Kass
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Reilly
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
authors.forename: Kathryn L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Good
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Hollingsworth
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Maggs
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
authors.forename: K Gary
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Magdesian
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pusterla
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D003315:Cornea / Q000473:pathology; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: 
  PPID
  ; band keratopathy; cornea; degeneration; equine; mineralization