Unilateral phacoclastic uveitis in a young crested gecko (Correlophus ciliatus)

Case description:

A 4-year-old, intact female crested gecko (Correlophus ciliatus) presented for globe asymmetry.

Clinical findings:

Physical examination revealed that the left globe was smaller than the right. Rebound tonometry revealed intraocular pressures between 3 and 7 mm Hg in both eyes. Biomicroscopy of the left eye revealed a small globe and a focally extensive area of heavily pigmented iris with miosis that precluded posterior segment examination. Biomicroscopy of the right eye was unremarkable.

Treatment and outcome:

The left eye was enucleated and the endolymphatic sac was ruptured intraoperatively. The gecko recovered uneventfully and skin sutures were removed 6 weeks postoperatively. Light microscopic examination of the left globe revealed phacoclastic uveitis.

Case relevance:

This is the first clinical, surgical, and histopathological report of ophthalmic disease and a cataract in a crested gecko. The lens rupture was assumed to be traumatic related to a previous focal globe perforation and led to phacoclastic uveitis and phthisis bulbi. Inadvertent intraoperative rupture of the endolymphatic sac during enucleation was not problematic.