Dog Catarac Surgery

Once a dog’s eye has developed a cataract, there is no way (that we know of) to eliminate the cataract without surgically removing it. There are some kinds of nutritional supplementation that can help prevent or limit the worsening of the cataract’s development. But to eliminate it it must be removed surgically. Hypermature cateracts can start to develop some clear spots, but of course you wouldn’t want to rely on that happening.

But just because surgery is the only total solution, that doesn’t mean that your dog needs cataract surgery. Most dogs with cataracts do not need surgery because their opacities are small enough as to not significantly interfere with their vision. Humans get cataract surgery very frequently, because we find them annoying and in a society where we have to drive cars, operate appliances, read documents, and so forth, having an opacity can be a real problem. But for a dog who just keeps you company and likes to play, an opacity doesn’t become a serious problem until it obscures his vision enough to inhibit his life. It’s important to remember that dog catarac surgery is a surgery intended to improve your dog’s quality of life, not save it’s life. So if the catarac isn’t cramping your dog’s style, then let it be.

A veterinary opthamologist will help you determine if dog catarac surgery is necessary. If your dog has severely inhibited vision, or is bound to become that way, then surgery can be a way to give your dog a new lease on life. Especially with older dogs who may also have lost their sense of hearing, being able to see can restore joy and meaning to its life.

How is the surgery carried out?

You may be familiar with the way that catarac surgery is carried out on humans, and in dogs the surgery uses the same equipment and procedures. First the veterinary opthomologist makes an incision in the eye and then a hole is made in the capsular bag holding the lense. A process called Phacoemulsification is then performed in which the cloudy lens is removed with a special probe. The lens’s capsular bag remains, but there is no longer a lens so an artificial one called an IOL (intraocular lens) is inserted into the bag. The intraocular lens can be either rigid polymer plastic or a soft foldable lens (this is determined by the veterinary opthamologist). The dog’s eye is then sealed up with tiny absorbable sutures.

Since any tiny amount of damage inside the eye can cause serious problems, the surgery is carried out under high magnification with an operating microscope. During the procedure the dog is under general anaesthesia.

How Will My Dog Be After the Procedure?

After successful surgery, your dog should be able to regain almost full normal vision. But since the replacement lens is an artificial one, perfectly natural vision is impossible to achieve. Dogs get some inflammation after the surgery, more so than in humans, which leads to some scarring. This can be limited with some anti-inflammatory drugs and oral antioxidant supplementation. Basically, the return of fully functional vision is the norm, even though some visual problems may still be present.

In some rare cases, it is impossible to insert the IOL to replace the old clouded lens. In such a case, the dog will still be able to see. But he will be more far-sighted and have less focus on near objects. Vision is still possible because the cornea does 2/3 of the eye’s focusing, while the lens does 1/3.

Be aware that the cost of dog catarac surgery is high. This is because of the special equipment and expertise of a highly trained veterinary opthamologist that are required. Even if you have pet insurance, don’t assume it covers cataract surgery because there is often a clause excluding genetic conditions, and cataracts are often a genetic condition. Look into this thoroughly before you commit to such a procedure.