The symptoms of symptomatic iritis vary according to the particular infection. In addition to the fibrinous exudate the infections of the respiratory organs are liable to be complicated by blood extravasations. In influenza this may show as deep blotches on the bulbar conjunctiva and in chemosis. In contagious pneumonia Schütz met with iritis of a distinctly hæmorrhagic character.
In Matthieu’s cases of tubercle of the iris there was first a slight lachrymation, and soon the iris assumed a grayish tint, and became uneven and unduly approximated to the cornea though it failed to become adherent to it. The swellings of the iris increased and became of a grayish yellow color, and the pupil was usually contracted and varied little in size. Post mortem examination showed the presence of tubercles. The same condition has become familiar in connection with experimental inoculation in the eye. As in ordinary iritis adhesion to the capsule of the lens and cataract are common results.
Apart from the treatment of the specific primary disease this type of iritis demands the same treatment as other forms. Strong atropia lotions to prevent or break up adhesions and antiseptic astringents are especially indicated. When implication of the second eye is threatened it may be desirable to remove the first by enucleation. (See Panophthalmitis).
FOREIGN BODIES IN THE IRIS.
These are sometimes fine shot particularly in dogs, and splinters of iron and steel in other animals. Their presence can sometimes be made out by careful focal illumination. If septic they cause violent iritis and panophthalmia. If aseptic they may sometimes cause little trouble. If they can be exactly located, they should be removed at once before the aqueous humor and cornea become clouded. If the offending body is a piece of iron or steel and can be reached by a magnet introduced through the original wound or through one made with a lancet in the edge of the cornea it may be extracted by this means. If it is shot or other body that is not attracted by a magnet the portion of the iris in which it is entangled may be drawn out with forceps and snipped off with fine scissors. Due antiseptic precaution must be exercised.
COLOBOMA IRIDIS. CONGENITAL APERTURE IN IRIS.
This is a congenital defect in which there is an aperture in the iris. Hering figures the two eyes of a horse in which these appeared in the direction of the outer canthus. Renner records a case in a foal in connection with intra-bulbar enchondroma. Dochtermann and Berlin record that among 64 pigs the result of breeding a boar on his daughters and grand-daughters no less than 36 showed coloboma. Möller figures a dog with the same affection.
The condition is not known to prove hurtful to the affected animal so that it may be wisely let alone.
DOUBLE PUPIL.
Mayer notes a case of congenital double pupil in the horse, a bridge extending across the space from the upper to the lower border and cutting off the outer third of the opening. The present writer has seen a similar condition as the result of union of the corpus nigrum in severe iritis. Section of the bridge is possible, though rarely desirable, seeing that it opens a door to possible infection.