Cataract treatment by phacoemulsification in 13 dogs and 4 cats (19 eyes): a clinical report

Subject Areas : Veterinary Clinical Pathology

Hamidreza fattahian ¹ (Assistant Professor, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Specialized Veterinary Scinces, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran- Iran)
roozbeh Moridpour ² (board certified veterinary surgeon)
kimia mansouri ³ (Resident of veterinary surgery, Islamic Azad university science and research branch)
Nikta Mansouri ⁴ (Resident of veterinary surgery at Islamic Azad university science and research branch)
Mahya Jazini Dorcheh ⁵ (Postgraduate Student of Surgery, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Specialized Veterinary Scinces, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran- Iran)

Received: 2017-06-29 Accepted : 2018-05-05 Published : 2018-10-23

Keywords: Cat, Dog, Cataract, Phacoemulsification,

Abstract :

Cataract may develop due to several causes with various sizes and shapes and in different parts of the lens. Because no effective medical treatment has been confirmed for this disease, surgery using different techniques including phacoemulsification is the only treatment option.  This study is a report of surgical treatment of cataract using phacoemulsification technique in dogs and cats in Iran. After diagnosis of cataract and proper case selection, lens extraction was performed by phacoemulsification in 13 dogs and 4 cats (19 eyes) and post-operative complications were evaluated. Patient vision was assessed by walking pattern but the predominant vision criterion and probable increase in quality of life was owner declaration. Uveitis and traumatic posterior capsule fibrosis were the most prevalent post-operative complications. Three dogs developed keratitis, one showed glaucoma and another one corneal edema. Pupillary light reflex (PLR) was negative only in 3 dogs and one cat postoperatively and there was no vision improvement according to owner declaration. Generally, the prognosis of phacoemulsification was better in younger patients with milder progression of cataract and it increased quality of life because postponing surgery until the cataract reaches advanced stages of maturity and development of lens induced uveitis affects the prognosis of surgery.

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