SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF A CASE OF MATURE CATARACT IN A DOG COMPLICATED BY IRIS-ANTERIOR LENS CAPSULE ADHESIONS USING PHACOEMULSIFICATION

Abstract

Cataracts occur frequently in older dogs and can lead to partial or complete vision loss. In the present study, a 10-year-old male German shepherd was presented for eye evaluation because of his complete blindness. The diagnosis was bilateral mature cataracts with multiple iris adhesions to the anterior lens capsule in the right eye. This case report examines the process of performing complicated cataract surgery using phacoemulsification method for the patient's right eye. We began to perform surgery as an uncomplicated one, but curvilinear capsulorrhexis was performed only after careful surgical debridement of all adhesion, as close as possible to the anterior lens capsule to prevent iris blood vessel rupture. The hardened cataract lens was removed by phacoemulsification. The surgery was completed by inserting a high performance An- vision Fo-X-14 artificial intraocular lens (IOL), first canine IOL with extended depth of focus. Follow-up surgery the dog gained a better quality of life by becoming visual in the right eye. We checked the intraocular pressure for 1 month after surgery, which remained stable throughout this period. Although iris-anterior lens capsule adhesion can rarely occur in dogs, if debridement can be done carefully during surgery for good capsulorrhexis with preservation of the lenticular capsular bag, phacoemulsification of mature cataracts can also be done successfully. Knowing the eyes at risk, good management of complications is an important point for obtaining a good visual outcome after complicated cataract surgery in dogs.