Analgesic effect of topical and subconjunctival morphine in dogs after phacoemulsification: A pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of a single treatment of topical and subconjunctival 0.1% preservative-free morphine sulfate (PFMS) in providing analgesia following phacoemulsification in dogs. ANIMALS STUDIED: Ten diabetic and ten non-diabetic client-owned dogs treated with bilateral phacoemulsification. PROCEDURES: A prospective, randomized, masked, negative-controlled clinical trial was performed. All dogs received topical (0.2 mL) and subconjunctival (0.1 mL) 0.1% PFMS in one eye following phacoemulsification. The other eye received an equal volume and mode of administration of balanced salt solution (BSS). Ophthalmic examination, blinking rates, tearing, conjunctival hyperemia, aqueous flare, and central corneal esthesiometry (CCE) were evaluated in all eyes 1 day prior to surgery and at 4, 24, and 48 hours after surgery. Complete physical examination, ocular ultrasound, electroretinogram, hemogram, and serum biochemistry panel were performed in all dogs prior to phacoemulsification. All dogs received the standard of care treatment before and after surgery, including uniform anesthetic protocol. RESULTS: Baseline ophthalmic exams were unremarkable, except for the presence of cataracts, in all dogs. The mean CCE (±SD) at 4 hours post-operatively was 1.76 ± 1.27 g/mm2 and 1.85 ± 1.5 g/mm2 for the negative control and PFMS groups, respectively. There were no statistical differences in blepharospasm, conjunctival hyperemia, tearing, aqueous flare, blinking rates, CCE, or intraocular pressure (IOP) between the treatment groups for any of the time points for the non-diabetic and diabetic dogs, or for all dogs combined (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Topical and subconjunctival 0.1% PFMS did not affect the evaluated parameters after phacoemulsification in the study dogs at the timepoints assessed.

Incidence and characteristics of acute-onset postoperative bacterial and sterile endophthalmitis in dogs following elective phacoemulsification: 1,447 cases (1995-2015).

OBJECTIVE To characterize and determine the incidence of acute-onset (ie, developing ≤ 6 weeks after surgery) postoperative infectious and sterile endophthalmitis in dogs following elective cataract surgery. DESIGN Retrospective case series. ANIMALS 2,630 eyes of 1,447 dogs that underwent elective unilateral or bilateral cataract surgery by phacoemulsification at Cornell University from 1995 through 2015. PROCEDURES Medical records were reviewed to collect and summarize data regarding dog signalment, clinical findings, diagnostic test results, surgery characteristics, eye or eyes affected, concurrent major systemic diseases, treatments, and clinical outcome. RESULTS Infectious endophthalmitis developed in 4 eyes of 4 dogs during the follow-up period, representing 0.15% of eyes and 0.28% of dogs that underwent surgery. Unilateral sterile endophthalmitis developed in 3 (0.11%) eyes of 3 (0.21%) dogs. All cases of infectious endophthalmitis were unilateral and in pseudophakic eyes and followed bilateral cataract surgeries. Clinical signs consistent with infectious endophthalmitis developed a median of 18 days after surgery and included marked and progressive hypopyon; Staphylococcus or Streptococcus spp were recovered from aqueous and vitreous humor samples. All eyes with infectious endophthalmitis responded poorly to medical treatment and were enucleated. In 2 eyes with infectious endophthalmitis, corneal incision nonunion with epithelial downgrowth was identified histologically and postulated as the route of bacterial entry into the globe. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Bacterial endophthalmitis following elective phacoemulsification was uncommon in the dogs of this study. Introduction of bacteria into the eye may occur during surgery or in the postoperative period from corneal incisions that fail to heal normally.

Diamond burr debridement vs. grid keratotomy in canine SCCED with scanning electron microscopy diamond burr tip analysis.

OBJECTIVES: (i) Compare the outcome of canine SCCED treated with grid keratotomy (GK) or diamond burr debridement (DBD); (ii) Serially evaluate morphologic and elemental composition changes to diamond burr tips. ANIMALS STUDIED: A total of 91 eyes of 88 canine SCCED patients treated at the University of Missouri (2005-2015); 75 fresh cadaver porcine globes. PROCEDURES: (i) Medical records were reviewed retrospectively. Data were analyzed for age, sex, breed, procedure performed, eye(s) on which the procedure was performed, time to healing after a single surgical procedure, performance of a second surgical procedure, contact lens placement, and postprocedural complications. (ii) Three naïve 3.5-mm medium grit burr tips were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). DBD was performed for 120 s on 8-mm porcine corneal stroma using the Algerbrush® . Manufacturer-recommended cleaning protocols were followed. SEM and EDS analyses were performed in triplicate after 10, 25, and 50 DBD, cleaning, and sterilization cycles. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in healing between DBD and GK groups (P = 0.50). No diamond particle damage after 10, 25, or 50 DBDs was detected. SEM secondary electron imaging and backscatter electron imaging after repeated uses demonstrated a build-up of contamination composed of carbon, sulfur, and calcium on burr tips. CONCLUSIONS: Both DBD and GK are effective treatment options for canine SCCED. Although complications are rare after DBD, build-up of contaminants may be a contributing factor. Additional cleaning and sterilization protocols are being investigated.