Intravitreal gentamicin injection for the treatment of end-stage glaucoma in rabbits
Glaucoma is a painful and blinding condition that occurs in many species, including rabbits. When medication is no longer effective in maintaining intraocular pressure (IOP), enucleation is the recognized treatment for rabbits with end-stage glaucoma. However, this procedure carries risks relating to the procedure and the anesthesia.
The aim of this retrospective study was to report the efficacy of intravitreal gentamicin injection in controlling IOP in blind eyes of rabbits with end-stage glaucoma. Researchers retrospectively assessed ocular and non-ocular complications.
Medical record review was performed to identify five client-owned rabbits (eight eyes) that were treated by intravitreal injection of 6-20 mg of gentamicin per eye (median 7.18 mg/kg) for chronic, end-stage glaucoma.
Treatment was unilateral in two and bilateral in three rabbits. Researchers assessed IOP control via rebound tonometry readings performed approximately two weeks, one month, three months, and six months after injection. Total follow-up was between 313 and 1,111 days. Ocular complications were recorded, and systemic health was estimated by the owner-answered questionnaire and changes in body weight.
IOP was <25 mmHg in 87.5% of eyes 3 months post-injection. The most common ocular complications were cataracts (62.5%), anterior uveitis (25%), retinal detachment (12.5%), and corneal erosion (12.5%). There were no behavioral or body weight changes suggestive of systemic complications.
In conclusion, 87.5% of rabbit eyes treated with intravitreal gentamicin had controlled IOP 3 months after injection. All eyes were blind at the time of injection. Ocular side effects were common. Investigation of the safety and systemic effects of intravitreal gentamicin injection is required. However, the research team did not identify any overt complications in treated rabbits in this study.
Gemma Turner, et al. “Clinical outcome of intravitreal gentamicin injection for the treatment of end-stage glaucoma in five rabbits (eight eyes).” Open Vet J. 2022 Nov-Dec;12(6):822-829. doi: 10.5455/OVJ.2022.v12.i6.6.
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