Technique, postoperative complications, and visual outcomes of phacoemulsification cataract surgery in 21 penguins (27 eyes): 2011-2015.

OBJECTIVE: To describe surgical technique, postoperative complications, and visual outcome in penguins after phacoemulsification lens extraction surgery. ANIMALS STUDIED: Twenty-one penguins (27 eyes) that had phacoemulsification from 2011 to 2015 at Animal Eye Associates. Species included are as follows: 14 southern Rockhopper (18 eyes, 66.6%), 4 Gentoo (4 eyes, 19%), 2 King (3 eyes, 9.5%), and 1 Chinstrap penguin (2 eyes, 4.8%). Eleven of the penguins were females, and 10 were males with average age at the time of surgery being 27.5 years (range of 22-31 years). PROCEDURE: This is a retrospective study of phacoemulsification cataract surgery patients from 2011 to 2015. Visual outcome was evaluated by veterinary ophthalmologists at postoperative recheck examinations and subjectively by penguin keepers using individual bird surveys and paired t tests for statistical analysis. RESULTS: All eyes were functionally visual after surgery and at the time of last follow-up. Based on keeper surveys, 81% (17/21) of penguins showed immediate improvements in overall quality of life and 90% (19/21) of penguins exhibited improvement in mobility and behavior within their exhibit following cataract removal. Of the 14 penguins that received 1:5 intracameral atracurium during surgery, 10 (71.4%) had moderate mydriasis, 1 (7.1%) had minimal mydriasis, and 3 (21.4%) showed no effect to the pupil. Seventy percent of the cases had phacoemulsification times less than 60 seconds/eye; the mean time was 72 seconds. Sixteen eyes (59.3%) underwent anterior capsulotomy only, planned anterior and posterior capsulotomies were performed in 3 eyes (11.1%), and the entire lens capsule was removed due to capsular fibrosis and wrinkling in 8 eyes (29.6%). The most common short-term postoperative complication was temporary mild blepharospasm and/or epiphora, reported in 8 eyes (29.6%) from 7 penguins (33.3%). Long-term complications, 2-6 years postoperatively, included posterior synechiation resulting in dyscoria (10 of 24 eyes, 41.7%) and capsular fibrosis in all penguins with residual lens capsule (19/19, 100%). CONCLUSION: The prognosis for vision and behavioral improvement after phacoemulsification surgery in penguins is good, with low incidence of vision-threatening complications.

Equine corneal surgery and transplantation.

Corneal disease is common in equine ophthalmology and requires vigilant monitoring and appropriate therapy to optimize the outcome. Many equine corneal diseases, particularly those that progress rapidly, may benefit from surgical intervention. These include descemetoceles, deep corneal lacerations and ulcers, corneal perforation/iris prolapse, ulcerative keratitis, corneal stromal abscesses, and corneoscleral neoplasia. Indications for corneal transplantation include optical, tectonic, therapeutic, and cosmetic purposes. Corneal transplantation is most often implemented in equine patients for tectonic and therapeutic reasons when a cornea is compromised by corneal stromal abscess, iris prolapse, or neoplasia. This article provides an outline of when to consider surgical intervention for corneal disease, the procedures available and expected outcomes, and how appropriate early surgical intervention can dramatically improve the end result.

Anterior lens capsule disruption and suspected malignant glaucoma in a dog.

A Boston Terrier puppy presented with a full-thickness peripheral corneal defect, iris prolapse and anterior lens capsule tear in the left eye (OS). Phacofragmentation and primary repair of the corneal laceration was performed. At surgery, subluxation of the lens was also apparent. One day postoperative, there was severe corneal edema, diffuse hyphema, an intraocular pressure (IOP) of 65 mmHg and a small amount of vitreous that protruded from the corneal incision OS. Malignant glaucoma or pupillary block glaucoma were suspected. Intravenous mannitol was administered preoperatively and had no effect. An anterior vitrectomy was performed on the vitreous within the anterior chamber and pupil. One day postoperative the IOP was 16 mmHg in the right eye (OD) and 20 mmHg OS. Postoperative iridocyclitis was managed medically, and additional elevations in IOP were not recorded. Resolution of the elevated IOP following anterior vitrectomy was supportive of pupillary block or malignant glaucoma. Vision returned 3 weeks after the initial surgery. Two years after the initial injury, the eye is visual and comfortable with infrequent topical anti-inflammatory therapy.

Detection of anti-lens crystallin antibody in dogs with and without cataracts.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if antilens crystallin (ALC) serum and aqueous humor antibodies were present in normal dogs and dogs with cataracts, whether antibody incidence varied with stage of cataract, and whether antibody titer had a relationship to the presence of lens-induced uveitis. METHODS: Serum and aqueous humor samples were obtained from normal dogs and dogs with cataracts. Lens crystallin was separated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and antilens crystallin antibodies were detected by Western immunoblot analysis. An indirect ELISA using crystallin protein as antigen was also used to detect antilens crystallin antibodies in serum and aqueous humor. Test groups included normal, incipient, immature, mature, hypermature and diabetic cataract. RESULTS: SDS-PAGE identified bands with molecular weights of lens crystallin subunits. Western immunoblotting demonstrated reaction between canine serum and these protein bands. The five canine serum samples that reacted with crystallin subunits on Western blots had corresponding reactivity on the ELISA. All aqueous humor samples (30) were negative. Serum ALC antibodies were detected in 59.3% (16/27) of controls, 66.7% (16/24) of incipients, 50.0% (10/20) of immatures, 37.9% (11/29) of matures, 28.6% (6/21) of hypermatures, and 26.7% (4/15) of diabetics. Serum ALC antibodies were detected in 43.1% (47/109) of all cataract samples. There was a statistically significant negative association between the presence (P = 0.004) and maturity (P = 0.004) of cataract and presence of ALC serum antibodies. In the immature and hypermature cataract groups, there was a statistically significant negative association between ALC serum antibody titer and severity of uveitis (95% confidence interval). CONCLUSIONS: There is a negative association between the presence (P = 0.004) and maturity (P = 0.004) of cataract and presence of ALC serum antibodies.

Hypertensive retinopathy and choroidopathy in a cat.

Bilateral hypertensive retinopathy and choroidopathy with bullous retinal detachment was diagnosed in a 17-year-old, female spayed Domestic Short-haired cat. The underlying cause of the systemic hypertension could not be determined. The blood pressure was lowered successfully with the oral application of the L-type calcium channel blocker amlodipine besylate. The cat subsequently regained vision. The improvement in retinal function was documented using electroretinography.