Pannus is a medical term used to describe a condition in the eye.
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The German Shepherds are most likely to have Chronic Superficial Keratitis, but it can occur in other breeds.Blood vessels and scar tissue invade the eye.Most or all of the corneal surface area can be involved in a severe case of this change.The affected areas become black with chronicity.
Pannus is thought to be an immune mediated disease.The immune system recognizes a subcellular change in the cornea as abnormal and attacks it, almost like a foreign tissue attack.The German Shepherd is believed to have a genetic susceptibility to this disease, but the damage to the eye is thought to be caused by ultraviolet radiation.Austria and Colorado both have areas of higher elevation where the first cases of Pannus were reported.The UV radiation theory supports the idea that Pannus are more severe and harder to treat in higher elevation areas.The theory is that the ozone layer has been dissipated.
It makes sense to treat Pannus with drugs that suppress the immune reaction.Steroids, such as dexamethasone and Prednisolone, provide some immunosupression as a side effect.If you apply cyclosporine alone or in combination with steroids, you will get better control of Pannus than if you use steroid alone.
For the past 12 years, cyclosporine has been used in the treatment of Pannus.A 1%, 1.5% or 2% solution is usually prepared in an oil base such as olive, corn or vegetable oil.When Optimmune (Schering Plough) became available to all veterinary practitioners for the treatment of another eye disorder, it was quite effective.The 1% solution is more successful in pannus cases.The active vascularization and granulation tissue often resolves with treatment, but the scarring and pigmentation may not improve at all.
There is a condition where a similar immune reaction is confined to the third eyelid.This variation is more common in the German Shepherd.Compared to Pannus, plasmoma is less threatening to the vision, my cause more discomfort, and is more resistant to treatment.
The longterm control of Pannus can be aided by the reduction of exposure to ultraviolet radiation.Keeping the dog indoors during the sunnier part of the day may be helpful.
Pannus is managed by treatment but not cure.Treatments for life are needed to maintain vision.