Management of Cataract in Dogs: Clinical Study of 22 Cases

Total 22 dogs (18 males and 4 female) with mature/immature/juvenile/senile cataracts presented to Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, COVS, Ludhiana were selected and operated with phaco-procedure and afterwards evaluated for efficacy of this technique for cataract management using foldable lens implant. Standard protocol of general anaesthesia was adopted for surgery of these cases; drug involved, premedication with Butorphanol (@ 0.2mg/kg) +Acepromazine (@0.001mg/kg) + Glycopyrrolate (@0.01mg/kg) followed by induction using propofol (@4mg/kg). Isoflurane (1-2%) was given for maintenance of anaesthesia. Square edge foldable acrylic lens were installed within capsular bag of 19 dogs whereas in 3 dogs it was not possible. Affected lenses or lens material was retrieved using phacoemulsification procedure under coaxial operating microscope. All the intra-operative complications were recorded in present study. Follow up of all animals were noted and evaluated for visual outcomes and postoperative complications (if, any). In order to calculate the success rate, the total number of eyes operated on for cataract surgery and lens implantation was divided by the number of cases in which successful vision restoration was observed. The results showed that restoration of functional vision was noted 15/22 (68.18%) at the 3-months follow-up period. Follow up in few cases (n=4) was recorded telephonically. Miosis, iatrogenic lens adherence with endothelium during surgery, failure of hydrodisection and hyphema were observed as intraoperative problems in this study. Corneal oedema in early postoperative period (within 7-days) was recorded as most common complication of this study. However, uveitis is also reported in many cases but resolved within 7-days of procedure.