Corneal ulcerations are a very common ocular condition in cats and often linked to a recrudescent Herpesvirus infection. The ulcers are typically linear (“dendritic” or pinpoint) and may cause significant discomfort. As the epithelial basement membrane may remain intact, some ulcers may not stain positive with Fluorescein and other vital staining technique are required to detect those ulcers (“Bengal Rose staining”). Many cats may also present with larger (“geographic”) corneal ulcers, which remain superficial but are very reluctant to heal. If a Herpesvirus infection is suspected anti-viral therapy is indicated either with topical drops/ointments or as an oral treatment. Other causes of ulcerations could be injuries due to sharp or blunt trauma, which could result in secondary infections and corneal melting. A corneal ulcer always requires immediate attention and frequent eye medications to prevent infection and to support the corneal healing.
