Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis: a ring device designed for prolonged retention in the bovine eye.

A study was conducted to determine whether treatment devices could be designed for prolonged retention in the eyes of cattle. Experimental design ring devices were compared relative to their ease of insertion, induction of adverse tissue reaction, and period of retention. The ring devices were also compared with commercially available devices used in human eyes. Ring devices having a circumference smaller than that of the conjunctival sac, but larger than that of the globe of the eye, were easy to insert, caused a minimal tissue reaction, and were retained by the eye up to 19 days. The authors suggest that a development using the ring design and an erodable matrix containing an antibacterial agent could lead to a possible method for the treatment of obstinate infections, such as infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) and Moraxella bovis carrier states in cattle.