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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Ophthalmol / Clinical features and outcomes of phacoemulsification in 39 ...
Veterinary ophthalmology2006; 9(5); 361-368; doi: 10.1111/j.1463-5224.2006.00494.x

Clinical features and outcomes of phacoemulsification in 39 horses: a retrospective study (1993-2003).

Abstract: To identify visual outcome and postoperative complications following phacoemulsification of equine cataracts. Methods: Records of 39 horses (55 eyes) with cataracts were reviewed. Methods: Eyes with cataracts removed by phacoemulsification were included in the study. Data collected included age, breed, sex, stage and etiology of cataract, unilateral vs. bilateral involvement, and ultrasound findings. Horses were grouped by etiology of the cataract. Visual outcome and complications were evaluated for each group and the overall population. Results: Immediately postoperatively 46 out of 47 eyes (98%) were sighted. Four weeks postoperatively 23 of 29 operated eyes (79%) were sighted [13/18 (72%) eyes with congenital/juvenile onset, 6/6 (100%) eyes with traumatic and 4/5 (90%) eyes with uveitis-induced cataracts], with 18 eyes lost to follow-up. The most common postoperative complications included corneal edema (19 eyes/40%), fibrin in the anterior chamber (11 eyes/23%), postoperative ocular hypertension (9 eyes/19%), synechia/dyscoria (9 eyes/19%), and hyphema (7 eyes/15%). Conclusions: Prognosis for vision is favorable for horses following phacoemulsification and planned posterior continuous tear circular capsulorrhexis. Success rates depend on age of patient, cause of cataract and pre-existing intraocular disease. The highest success rate occurred in eyes with traumatic cataracts.
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Publication Date: 2006-08-31 PubMed ID: 16939466DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-5224.2006.00494.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study reviews the outcome and possible complications of a surgical procedure called phacoemulsification performed on horses with cataracts. It was found that the majority of horses regain sight post-surgery, with rates differing based on the cause of the cataract. However, various post-operative complications were also observed.

Research Method

  • The study conducted a retroactive analysis of 39 horses (comprising 55 eyes) that had been diagnosed with cataracts and undergone phacoemulsification treatment.
  • Horses included in the study were selected based on several factors, including: age, breed, sex, stage and etiology of cataract, and presence of unilateral or bilateral involvement.
  • The condition of the eyes as observed through an ultrasound was also taken into account.
  • The horses were divided into groups according to the cause of their cataracts.

Results

  • Immediately following the surgery, 98% of the eyes (or 46 out of 47) were sighted.
  • Four weeks after the surgery, 23 of the 29 operated eyes were sighted. This included 72% of eyes with congenital/juvenile onset cataracts, 100% of eyes with traumatic cataracts, and 90% of eyes with uveitis-induced cataracts.
  • However, 18 eyes were lost to follow-up, meaning they could not be accurately assessed.

Postoperative Complications

  • The study noted several common complications that occurred after the procedure. These included: corneal edema (which affects 40% of the eyes), fibrin in the anterior chamber (23%), postoperative ocular hypertension (19%), synechia/dyscoria (19%), and hyphema (15%).

Conclusions

  • The research concluded that the prognosis for vision in horses post-phacoemulsification is generally favorable.
  • However, the success rate of the procedure varied depending on the age of the patient, the cause of the cataract, and the presence of pre-existing intraocular disease.
  • The research also found that eyes with traumatic cataracts had the highest success rate after the procedure.

Cite This Article

APA
Fife TM, Gemensky-Metzler AJ, Wilkie DA, Colitz CM, Bras ID, Klages DC. (2006). Clinical features and outcomes of phacoemulsification in 39 horses: a retrospective study (1993-2003). Vet Ophthalmol, 9(5), 361-368. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1463-5224.2006.00494.x

Publication

Veterinary ophthalmology
ISSN: 1463-5216
NlmUniqueID: 100887377
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 9
Issue: 5
Pages: 361-368

Researcher Affiliations

Fife, Tina M
  • Eye Care for Animals, Tustin, CA 92780, USA.
Gemensky-Metzler, Anne J
    Wilkie, David A
      Colitz, Carmen M H
        Bras, I Dineli
          Klages, Deborah C

            MeSH Terms

            • Animals
            • Cataract / veterinary
            • Female
            • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
            • Horse Diseases / surgery
            • Horses
            • Male
            • Ohio / epidemiology
            • Phacoemulsification / statistics & numerical data
            • Phacoemulsification / veterinary
            • Postoperative Complications / veterinary
            • Records / veterinary
            • Retrospective Studies
            • Treatment Outcome

            Citations

            This article has been cited 8 times.
            1. Sritrakoon N, Jitsophakul K, Areevijittrakul L, Thayananuphat A. Cataract Surgery in Pet Rabbits: Clinical Presentation, Treatment, and Long-Term Outcomes. Animals (Basel) 2025 Oct 3;15(19).
              doi: 10.3390/ani15192898pubmed: 41096493google scholar: lookup
            2. Pereira R, Bowen M, Rapezzano G, Redpath A, Pratt S, Hallowell G. Use of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rTPA) for treatment of fibrin in the anterior chamber of the horse. Vet Med Sci 2024 Jul;10(4):e1448.
              doi: 10.1002/vms3.1448pubmed: 38818763google scholar: lookup
            3. Kalinovskiy A, Leser S, Ehrle A, Reese S, Jones S, Gerhards H. Phacoemulsification Combined with Pars Plana Vitrectomy: Outcome in Horses with Acquired Cataracts Associated with Uveitis. Animals (Basel) 2024 Apr 16;14(8).
              doi: 10.3390/ani14081192pubmed: 38672339google scholar: lookup
            4. Sritrakoon N, Areevijittrakul L, Nimitchaiyapong N, Khamchomphu N, Duangurai T. Phacoemulsification in a chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera). Open Vet J 2023 Aug;13(8):1032-1036.
              doi: 10.5455/OVJ.2023.v13.i8.10pubmed: 37701661google scholar: lookup
            5. Ing S. Ocular and facial porcupine quills in a miniature horse. Can Vet J 2022 Jul;63(7):747-750.
              pubmed: 35784768
            6. Cerreta AJ, McMullen RJ Jr, Scott HE, Ringenberg JD, Hempstead JE, DeVoe RS, Loomis MR, Minter LJ. Bilateral Phacoemulsification in an African Elephant (Loxodonta africana). Case Rep Vet Med 2019;2019:2506263.
              doi: 10.1155/2019/2506263pubmed: 31380140google scholar: lookup
            7. Fenollosa-Romero E, Jeanes E, Freitas I, Enache AE, Lockhart R, Fleming L, Knott TNL, Dawson C, Smith K, Busse C. Outcome of phacoemulsification in 71 cats: A multicenter retrospective study (2006-2017). Vet Ophthalmol 2020 Jan;23(1):141-147.
              doi: 10.1111/vop.12699pubmed: 31328856google scholar: lookup
            8. Meister U, Görig C, Murphy CJ, Haan H, Ohnesorge B, Boevé MH. Intraocular lens power calculation for the equine eye. BMC Vet Res 2018 Apr 3;14(1):123.
              doi: 10.1186/s12917-018-1448-6pubmed: 29615113google scholar: lookup
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