The Results of Phacofragmentation and Aspiration Surgery for Cataract Extraction in Dogs

Authors: FATMA ESER ÖZGENCİL

Abstract: Cataract surgery was planned on 41 ERG positive eyes of 25 dogs of which 9 had unilateral and 16 had bilateral cataracts. Phacofragmentation and aspiration surgery was performed on 32 eyes of 20 dogs (and ECCE was performed on 4 eyes and ICCE was performed on 5 eyes of 5 dogs) of different breeds, sexes and ages. Vision restoration and complications were evaluated postoperatively in the short term (4 weeks). Mean age of the 20 dogs was 7.3 years. Stages of cataracts were classified as mature (n: 17), immature (n: 8) and intumescent (n: 7). While the mean phacoemulsification time was 1.50 min in immature and intumescent cases, it was 5.30 min in mature cases. The mean irrigation volume was 100 ml in intumescent and immature cases and 300 ml in mature cases. Functional vision was established in 22.2% of mature eyes and 77.8% of immature and intumescent eyes. The success rate of phacofragmentation surgery was significantly better in immature and intumescent eyes than in mature eyes (P < 0.0001). Mean age was 8.57 years in the dogs without functional vision and 5.88 years in those with functional vision after phacofragmentation surgery. Age of the dog at surgery was a significant factor in the restoration of vision (P < 0.05). In this study, the most important intraoperatative complications (anterior capsular fibrosis, radial tear of anterior capsule and posterior capsular rupture-vitreous prolapsus) were observed in the mature and aged dogs. The most important postoperative complications in this study (uveitis and corneal thermal injury) were observed in mature and aged dogs. Vision was restored in eyes with immature and intumescent cataracts more successfully (11.7-fold) than in eyes with mature cataracts by phacofragmentation surgery.

Keywords: Phacofragmentation and aspiration, phacoemulsification, cataract, dog

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