ORGANIC UNION OF THE EYELIDS. ANKYLOBLEPHARON. NARROWED FISSURE BETWEEN THE LIDS. BLEPHAROPHYMOSIS.
Complete closure of the palpebral fissure has been seen as a congenital infirmity in sheep, dogs and cats, while the partial closure has been found in all classes of animals as the result of chronic conjunctivitis and contraction of the exudation in undergoing organization. Narrowing of the fissure gives the appearance of a small eye, so that a progressive diminution is usually supposed to come from a reduction in size of the bulb, though no actual atrophy of that organ has taken place. In drooping of the upper lid (ptosis) too, the fissure is reduced and the illusion of an atrophy of the eyeball is induced. The closure of the fissure may come from blepharospasm, as the result of irritants in the eye, or even of nervous disorder.
Treatment. In case of complete closure of the palpebral fissure, the skin is picked up with forceps and an incision is made between the two tarsi into the conjunctival sac. Then with probe pointed scissors, or a grooved director and bistuory the incision is carried between the tarsi to the proper position for the internal and external canthi. During healing the lids should be frequently bathed with a boric acid solution, and an ointment of the same with vaseline should be applied to prevent adhesion.
When the trouble consists in a drawing together of the skin at the outer canthus, the result of inflammation, the adhesions are separated by a horizontal incision leading outward from the line of the angle. The edges of the conjunctiva and skin are then sutured together, so as to prevent further adhesion and the part treated as an ordinary wound. This is known as canthoplasty.
Ptosis coming from tumors on the lid, or excess of fat in its substance, or from oculo-motor disease must be treated according to indications. The same remark applies to spasm of the orbicular muscle (blepharospasm), whether clonic or tonic. In domestic animals the removal of the cause (foreign body, eyelash), will usually succeed.