Phacoemulsification in a clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)

Phacoemulsification and prophylactic retinopexy were performed on a 3‐month‐old hand‐raised clouded leopard with a unilateral mature cataract. The same procedures were repeated 3 months later when a cataract developed in the fellow eye. Examination procedures, anesthetic protocols, and surgical techniques were similar to those utilized in domestic cats. The patient retains highly functional aphakic vision at the present age of 2.5 years. An inherited basis for the cataracts is proposed. Although the cub was hand raised, the cataracts were unlike nutritional cataracts reported previously in domestic cats and dogs. To the author’s knowledge this is the first report of cataract formation and phacoemulsification in a clouded leopard.     

Phacoemulsification in an adult Savannah monitor lizard

An adult male Savannah monitor lizard (Varanus exanthematicus) was presented for bilateral lens opacities that had progressed rapidly over the previous 2 months. A diagnosis of bilateral mature cataracts was made and phacoemulsification cataract extraction was performed. Surgery restored vision and normal activity to the patient.     

Real-time intraocular pressure measurement during phacoemulsification in dogs ex vivo

This study was performed to evaluate changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) during standard coaxial phacoemulsification using 4 different bottle heights (BHs) and 2 different incision sizes. Coaxial phacoemulsification was performed with a venturi-based machine in 8 enucleated canine eyes through 3.0 and 3.2 mm clear corneal incisions (CCIs). A pressure transducer inserted in the peripheral cornea monitored the IOP in real-time. The surgery was subdivided into 4 stages: sculpt-segment removal, irrigation/aspiration, capsular polishing and viscoelastic removal. The mean IOP and the difference between the maximum and minimum IOPs were calculated at each stage and compared. The ultrasound time and volume of irrigation fluid used were recorded. The mean IOP increased with an elevation in the BH. The mean IOP in the irrigation/aspiration stage was significantly higher than that in the sculpt-segment removal stage at the same BH. The difference between the maximum and minimum IOP at each stage was greater in the 3.2 mm than the 3.0 mm CCIs, although the mean IOP was lower with the 3.2 mm than the 3.0 mm CCIs. The ultrasound time and irrigation fluid volume were greater with the 3.2 mm than the 3.0 mm CCIs. Therefore, fluidic parameters during each stage could be reassessed and adjusted to reduce complications arising from an elevated IOP. Phacoemulsification with 3.0 mm CCIs at a lower BH might lead to less stress on the eye from IOP fluctuations, ultrasound energy and irrigation fluid.     

Retrospective investigation of perioperative risk factors for immediate postoperative corneal erosions in dogs undergoing phacoemulsification

Objective

To characterize the incidence, contributing risk factors, and healing characteristics of immediate postoperative corneal erosions (IPCE) in dogs undergoing routine phacoemulsification.

Animals Studied

Medical records of 313 canine eyes (159 dogs) undergoing routine phacoemulsification surgery.

Procedures

Medical records of dogs undergoing planned cataract surgery at UW Veterinary Care were retrospectively reviewed. Patient-related variables including age, skull conformation, diabetes status, and cataract stage at the time of surgery were recorded. Intraoperative variables per eye were also recorded including surgical technique, surgeon expertise level, average phacoemulsification power, and phacoemulsification time. Diagnosis of IPCE ≤ 24 h after completion of surgery and time to IPCE healing were recorded where follow-up data were available.

Results

Immediate postoperative corneal erosions were observed in 48/313 (15.3%) operated eyes. The presence of diabetes mellitus or brachycephalic skull conformation, preoperative Schirmer tear test (STT) value, surgical technique and surgeon experience level, phacoemulsification time, and absolute phacoemulsification time were not statistically significant risk factors for IPCE. Average phacoemulsification power was associated with IPCE (RR 1.52, p = .001). Time to IPCE healing was similar in diabetic and non-diabetic dogs (median [IQR] 8 [6–11] days and 8 [6–15] days, respectively). Diabetes mellitus, brachycephaly, and phacoemulsification parameters were not associated with IPCE healing at 7 or 14 days postoperatively.

Conclusions

Higher average phacoemulsification power may be associated with the development of IPCE in canine eyes. The presence of diabetes mellitus or brachycephaly are not risk factors for the development of IPCE, nor are they factors that influence IPCE healing.     

Postoperative complications and visual outcomes of phacoemulsification in 103 dogs (179 eyes): 2006-2008

Objective To describe the postoperative complications and visual outcome after phacoemulsification in dogs and identify risk factors for complications. Animals studied One hundred and three dogs (179 eyes) that had phacoemulsification with or without intraocular lens (IOL) placement including foldable acrylic IOLs between March 2006 and March 2008 at Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Procedure Medical records were reviewed and occurrence and dates of postoperative complications were tabulated. Visual status at the final recheck during the study period was recorded. Additional information including signalment, diabetes mellitus status, operative complications and factors, presence of prior lens induced uveitis, preoperative retinopexy, and cataract stage was collected. Results The majority of eyes were functionally visual (148 eyes, 82.7%) at the end of the study period. Blindness was seen in 18 eyes (10.0%) with reduced vision in 13 eyes (7.3%) at the final recheck. Postoperative ocular hypertension (22.9%), corneal lipid opacity (19.0%), uveitis (16.2%), intraocular hemorrhage (12.3%), retinal detachment (8.4%), and glaucoma (6.7%) were the most common postoperative complications seen in eyes. The odds of blindness were significantly greater (OR = 290.44) in the eyes of Boston terriers compared with mixed breed dogs and with each year of increasing age (OR = 2.00). Conclusion The prognosis for vision after phacoemulsification with injectable IOL placement is good. Boston terriers were at much higher risk for certain complications.