The Equine Eye Clinic

Palpate the sub-conjunctival foot plate to locate it.

Inject subconjunctival local anaesthetic over the foot plate after first anaesthetising this site with a topical local soaked sterile cotton bud.

Inject local anaesthetic around the exit point of the lavage tube taking care not to lacerate the tube with the needle.

Cannulate the short cut end of the lavage tube using the blunt ended cannula supplied with the kit.

Prolapse the third eye lid to protect the cornea prior to attempting to push the foot plate against its conjunctival covering.

In many cases the buried foot plate can be visualised and a small conjunctival incision made using the tip of a guarded 18g needle or small conjunctival scissors to allow removal.

Blind dissection can be performed with care using an 18g needle guarded by a gloved finger.

Should conjunctival dissection not be possible a small cutaneous incision can be made adjacent to the tubes exit point to facilitate removal.

Systemic antibiotics and NSAIDs should be given if surgical removal is required.