Page 1349 - Problem-Based Feline Medicine

66 – THE CAT WITH AN ABNORMAL THIRD EYELID 1341

Clinical signs Clinical signs

Pink to reddish mass with a smooth conjunctival sur- Everted third eyelid margin occurs because of fold-
face protrudes from behind the leading edge of the third ing of the cartilage of the third eyelid. This condition
eyelid margin. should be distinguished from a prolapsed gland of the
nictitans.
Prolapse may be accompanied by variable degrees of
inflammation and discharge, ranging from mucoid to Rare in cats. Reported only in Burmese cats.
mucopurulent.
Rare in cats compared with dogs, and reported only in Diagnosis
Burmese cats.
Diagnosis is based on the appearance of the third eye-
lid margin. Usually there is no sign of a fleshy mass
Diagnosis protruding from behind the third eyelid.

Diagnosis is based on the appearance of the mass.
Differential diagnosis would be a tumor or a folded Treatment
(everted or inverted) third eyelid cartilage, also rarely
Resection of the folded section of cartilage will enable
reported, and only in Burmese cats.
straightening of the third eyelid.

EVERTED NICTITANS CARTILAGE

Classical signs
● Folded everted third eyelid margin.
● Rare and only reported in Burmese cats.

RECOMMENDED READING

Glaze MB, Gelatt KN. Feline ophthalmology. In: Scagliotti R (ed) Comparative Neuro-ophthalmology. In: Gelatt KN
(series ed) Veterinary Ophthalmology, 3rd edn. Baltimore, Maryland, Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, 1999,
pp. 1004–1010, 1366–1370.
Ketring KL, Glaze MB. Atlas of Feline Ophthalmology. Trenton, New Jersey, Veterinary Learning Systems, 1994,
pp. 69–76.
Sharp NJH, Nash AS, Griffiths IR. Feline dysautonomia (the Key-Gaskell syndrome): a clinical and pathologic study
of forty cases. J Small Anim Pract 1984; 25: 599–615.