Non-healing corneal ulcer secondary to reopened conjunctival incision following cherry eye correction in a dog

This case report describes a 6-year-old, mixed-breed dog presenting with a non-healing superficial corneal ulcer in the left eye, 5 years after undergoing surgical correction of the prolapsed gland of the third eyelid (‘cherry eye’). The ulcer was initially misinterpreted as a spontaneous chronic corneal epithelial defect due to its superficial nature and non-adherent epithelial edges. However, the recurrence of the ulcer within a week of apparent healing prompted further investigation, revealing a reopened conjunctival incision from the previous cherry eye surgery years prior. This irregular conjunctival surface caused mechanical irritation to the cornea. Partial third eyelid resection that included excision of the irregular conjunctival tissue successfully resolved the condition, with no recurrence observed over 12 months. This case highlights a rare and delayed complication of cherry eye surgery, emphasising the importance of re-evaluating refractory cases of ulceration and considering the long-term sequelae of surgical interventions.