Florida Spots (Florida Keratopathy)

an eye condition characterized by the presence of multiple spots within both corneas

What is it?
Florida keratopathy is an eye condition characterized by the presence of multiple white to gray-tan spots within the cornea.

What causes it?
The cause is unknown, though it is theorized that it might be caused by fire ant stings.

What are the symptoms?
It appears as multiple cloudy opacities in the stromal layer of the cornea. The spots tend to be more numerous near the center of the cornea. They can range in size from one to eight millimeters, and are translucent, and therefore rarely interfere with vision.  The condition is unassociated with other eye symptoms, and causes no irritation or discomfort.

Who is susceptible to it?
It is most commonly seen in dogs and cats, but is also occasionally seen in horses and birds. In the United States, Florida keratopathy is found in animals in the most southeastern part of the country. This condition also occurs in the tropics and subtropics in other parts of the world where it goes by the name tropical keratopathy.

How is it treated?
There is no response to treatment with either anti-inflammatory or antimicrobial drugs. Once spots are identified, progression is usually minimal to none.