Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
3.5
2.3
Journals
Veterinary Sciences
Special Issues
Vision in Focus: Advances in Veterinary Ophthalmology
share announcement

Vision in Focus: Advances in Veterinary Ophthalmology

A special issue of Veterinary Sciences (ISSN 2306-7381).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 29 September 2026 | Viewed by 4376

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Marie-Odile Benoit-Biancamano

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centre de Diagnostic Vétérinaire de l’Université de Montréal, Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada
Interests: ocular pathology; eye neoplasia; histopathology; eye development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Maria Vanore

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 2M2, Canada
Interests: optical coherence tomography; corneal surgery and regeneration and ocular pathology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, titled “Vision in Focus: Advances in Veterinary Ophthalmology”, will bring together significant research and reviews on ocular diseases in all animal species, with a key emphasis on advancing ophthalmology.

The primary aim is to advance our understanding of the pathological mechanisms underlying ophthalmic disorders in order to support the development of diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies to help maintain and protect ocular health.

A particular objective is to highlight systemic diseases with ocular involvement, offering a broad and integrative view of the eye as both a specialized organ and a window into systemic health.

Submissions addressing the interplay between ocular pathology and other systems—including the neurological, dermatological, muscular, and immune systems—are especially welcome.

Authors are invited to submit relevant research studies and review articles. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Ocular development and embryogenesis;
  • Inherited eye disorders;
  • Systemic and/or ocular tumors;
  • Inflammatory eye diseases;
  • Ocular toxicity of exogenous compounds;
  • Animal models of ophthalmic diseases;
  • Systemic diseases with ophthalmic manifestations;
  • Diagnostic and therapeutic tools.

Dr. Marie-Odile Benoit-Biancamano
Dr. Maria Vanore
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Veterinary Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • ocular pathology
  • histopathology
  • ocular diagnostic
  • ocular therapy
  • systemic diseases

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

21 pages, 7260 KB  
Article
Corneal Epithelial and Vascular Tumors in Domestic Species: Narrative Review of the Literature and Insights from New Cases (2016–2025)
by Miriam Fossati, Gaia Beatrice Maria Bianchi and Chiara Giudice
Vet. Sci. 2026, 13(3), 258; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13030258 - 11 Mar 2026
Viewed by 767
Abstract
Neoplasia of the cornea is overall rare, with corneal squamous-cell carcinoma (c-SCC) being most commonly reported in all species. C-SCC pathogenesis has been related to UV exposure in humans and horses, and to papillomavirus infection in humans. In dogs, brachycephalic conformation and chronic [...] Read more.
Neoplasia of the cornea is overall rare, with corneal squamous-cell carcinoma (c-SCC) being most commonly reported in all species. C-SCC pathogenesis has been related to UV exposure in humans and horses, and to papillomavirus infection in humans. In dogs, brachycephalic conformation and chronic keratitis were associated with c-SCC. Corneal vascular tumors have also been exceptionally reported in humans, and rarely in animals. In dogs, they have been suggested to be UV-related. Except for equine c-SCCs, most studies on corneal neoplasms are case reports. The present study aimed to review the literature on epithelial and vascular corneal tumors in dogs, cats, and horses, adding new cases from our archives. Pubmed and Web of Science were searched (1980–2025) using the following keywords: cornea, neoplasia, carcinoma, hemangioma, hemangiosarcoma, dog, cat, and horse. Additionally, 94 new cases of corneal neoplasia were retrieved: 47 dogs (40 epithelial and seven vascular); 29 cats (14 epithelial and 15 vascular) and 18 horses. Signalment, clinical history, and histopathological characteristics were analyzed and compared with the literature. The combined results supported a strong association between brachycephalic dogs and c-SCC occurrence and highlighted the frequent coexistence in the feline species of symblepharon and corneal perforation, with corneal tumors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vision in Focus: Advances in Veterinary Ophthalmology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 2032 KB  
Article
Comparative Histology of the Cornea and Palisades of Vogt in Various Non-Human Primates
by Joanna Klećkowska-Nawrot, Aleksander Chrószcz, Abit Aktaş, Wojciech Paszta, Karolina Goździewska-Harłajczuk and Dominik Poradowski
Vet. Sci. 2026, 13(1), 109; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13010109 - 22 Jan 2026
Viewed by 645
Abstract
The cornea is essential for proper ocular function, yet its histological structure varies considerably among animal species. Of particular importance are the palisades of Vogt in the limbal region, as they serve as a niche for limbal epithelial stem cells involved in corneal [...] Read more.
The cornea is essential for proper ocular function, yet its histological structure varies considerably among animal species. Of particular importance are the palisades of Vogt in the limbal region, as they serve as a niche for limbal epithelial stem cells involved in corneal epithelial regeneration. This study was conducted on 73 eyeballs collected from 18 species of non-human primates originating from the Wrocław Zoological Garden (Poland). Eyeballs were fixed, processed, and embedded in paraffin. Four-micrometer sections were stained with Mayer’s H&E and PAS. Microscopically, the cornea showed either a four-layered pattern (anterior corneal epithelium, corneal stroma, Descemet’s membrane, posterior corneal epithelium) or a five-layered pattern when Bowman’s layer was present. A four-layered cornea occurred in the ring-tailed lemur, gray mouse lemur, Guianan squirrel monkey, Angolan colobus, and L’Hoest’s monkey, while the remaining species showed a five-layered structure with Bowman’s layer. The anterior corneal epithelium varied between species in thickness and number of cell layers (central region: 2–3 to 10–15 layers; 11.81 ± 0.43 µm to 44.23 ± 0.69 µm; peripheral region: 4–5 to 9–11 layers; 8.63 ± 2.57 µm to 42.45 ± 8.61 µm). Bowman’s layer ranged from 1.18 ± 0.01 µm to 3.22 ± 0.05 µm. The corneal stroma thickness differed markedly (237.96 ± 9.64 µm to 1438.29 ± 16.38 µm), as did Descemet’s membrane (4.92 ± 0.20 µm to 43.45 ± 0.49 µm), along with PAS reaction intensity. In the limbus, palisades of Vogt ranged from weakly to clearly developed; well-defined crypt-like structures were observed in the red-bellied lemur, red ruffed lemur, black-and-white ruffed lemur, Guianan squirrel monkey, L’Hoest’s monkey, Celebes crested macaque, and yellow baboon. The limbal epithelium also varied in thickness (5–6 to 15–17 cell layers). These results confirm distinct species-specific differences in corneal and limbal morphology that may reflect ecological conditions and functional adaptation. The presented data provides a comparative reference for veterinary ophthalmology and for studies on corneal epithelial regeneration involving limbal stem cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vision in Focus: Advances in Veterinary Ophthalmology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 239 KB  
Article
A Prospective Exploratory Study on Potential Systemic Causes and Risk Factors for Subconjunctival Bleeding in Neonatal Calves
by Martin Steffl, Katharina Euchner and Nadine Nautscher
Vet. Sci. 2025, 12(12), 1111; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12121111 - 21 Nov 2025
Viewed by 497
Abstract
Subconjunctival bleeding in neonatal calves is most commonly seen in association with birth trauma. There are currently no investigations available that examine the systemic causes of this phenomenon. In this prospective and exploratory case–control study, seven out of eighty neonatal calves examined over [...] Read more.
Subconjunctival bleeding in neonatal calves is most commonly seen in association with birth trauma. There are currently no investigations available that examine the systemic causes of this phenomenon. In this prospective and exploratory case–control study, seven out of eighty neonatal calves examined over a two-year period were born with subconjunctival bleeding. The anatomical location of the subconjunctival bleeding and details related to the cow’s and calf’s parturitional and gestational history were recorded. Blood samples from cases and controls (n = 7) were analyzed hematologically, and the serum lysyl oxidase-like enzyme 4 (LOXL4) concentration was determined through an ELISA to establish evidence for possible structural, copper-dependent vascular abnormalities. We found no significant difference in the clinical data of both groups. Hematological examinations revealed no evidence of anemia or thrombocytopenia. Additionally, no significant differences in differential leukocyte counts were observed between the different groups. However, the neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) demonstrated a significant difference between the calves with subconjunctival bleeding and controls. The serum LOXL4 protein concentration was not significantly different in calves with subconjunctival bleeding compared to controls. In conclusion, our clinical, hematological, and biochemical data provided no evidence for potential systemic causes of subconjunctival bleeding. However, these results must be considered in light of this study’s small sample size and thus low statistical power. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vision in Focus: Advances in Veterinary Ophthalmology)
20 pages, 4832 KB  
Article
Biosynthetic Collagen-Analog Hydrogels Stimulate Endogenous Regrowth of Rabbit Corneas: A Pilot Study
by Iris Timmerman, Marie-Claude Robert, Claire Vergneau-Grosset, Tristan Juette, Javier Benito, Marta Garbin, Mostafa Zamani-Roudbaraki, Mona Moradi, Hamid Goodarzi, Christos Boutopoulos, Marie-Odile Benoit-Biancamano, May Griffith and Maria Vanore
Vet. Sci. 2025, 12(8), 785; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12080785 - 21 Aug 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1634
Abstract
Pro-regenerative corneal implants are being developed to improve corneal healing for companion animals in clinical practice. This pilot study evaluated early corneal tissue and nerve regeneration using biosynthetic collagen-analog hydrogels (CAH) in liquid and solid forms. Their efficacy was compared to each other [...] Read more.
Pro-regenerative corneal implants are being developed to improve corneal healing for companion animals in clinical practice. This pilot study evaluated early corneal tissue and nerve regeneration using biosynthetic collagen-analog hydrogels (CAH) in liquid and solid forms. Their efficacy was compared to each other and to allografts on nine white New Zealand rabbits, divided in three groups of three. Each rabbit cornea underwent keratectomy followed by grafting with either a control allograft cornea, liquid injectable, or solid CAH implant. Corneal healing was assessed over 16 weeks using clinical exams, esthesiometry, in vivo confocal microscopy, and optical coherence tomography. One rabbit per group was euthanized at 3, 10, and 16 weeks for histopathological analysis. Both liquid and solid implants enabled corneal re-epithelialization and regeneration of stromal tissue and corneal nerves. Esthesiometric values indicated faster nerve regeneration in rabbits grafted with biosynthetic implants compared to allografts (p < 0.005). By 16 weeks, regenerated neocorneas achieved transparency comparable to allografts. Solid and liquid CAH implants supported complete corneal tissue and nerve regeneration in the studied rabbits. These results suggest that with further research and development, the current gold standard for corneal transplantation could be replaced by high-performing, easily produced biosynthetic alternatives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vision in Focus: Advances in Veterinary Ophthalmology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

15 pages, 817 KB  
Review
Beyond Antibiotics: The Expanding Role of Non-Antibiotic Therapies in Veterinary Ophthalmology
by Marta Leiva, Rita Vilao Cardoso, Laura Gaztelu and Teresa Peña
Vet. Sci. 2026, 13(5), 461; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13050461 - 9 May 2026
Viewed by 128
Abstract
The sustained increase in bacterial resistance has driven the search for therapeutic alternatives that may help reduce antibiotic use, particularly in empirical treatments. In this context, topical ophthalmic antiseptics have emerged as effective and safe tools, suitable for both perioperative prophylaxis and the [...] Read more.
The sustained increase in bacterial resistance has driven the search for therapeutic alternatives that may help reduce antibiotic use, particularly in empirical treatments. In this context, topical ophthalmic antiseptics have emerged as effective and safe tools, suitable for both perioperative prophylaxis and the management of mild or superficial ocular diseases. Their broad spectrum of activity—encompassing bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa—together with the low likelihood of inducing resistance, establishes them as valuable partners in daily clinical practice. This article reviews the current evidence on the use of antiseptics in veterinary ophthalmology, focusing on their clinical applications, therapeutic benefits, and limitations. It also highlights the need for further studies to establish species-specific, disease-specific, and context-based protocols. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vision in Focus: Advances in Veterinary Ophthalmology)
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-5
Back to TopTop