Standing ophthalmic surgeries in horses.

The research explores the feasibility of conducting eye surgery in horses while they remain standing and without the use of general anesthesia. While possible for certain procedures, the study highlights the risks and limitations, including potential tissue damage due to uncontrolled eye and head movement and drawbacks related to the lack of precision in microsurgery.

The Concept of Standing Ophthalmic Surgeries

• This research is based on the concept of standing ophthalmic surgery, which is eye surgery performed without general anesthesia, with the horse remaining standing throughout the procedure. This is used for simpler procedures and aims at reducing the complications associated with applying general anesthesia.

Benefits and Limitations of Standing Ophthalmic Surgeries

• The study suggests that common procedures such as the repair of eyelid lacerations and enucleations (removal of the eye) can be successfully conducted through standing ophthalmic surgery.
• However, one significant challenge pointed out is the potential for tissue damage due to the inability to entirely control the eye and head movements of the horse during surgery.
• The study emphasizes the crucial role of heavy sedation and the necessary local nerve blocks in ensuring a favorable outcome for ophthalmic surgery in the non-anesthetized horse. These interventions help in reducing the movements of the horse, thus facilitating the execution of the surgeries.

Restrictions on Microsurgeries

• Due to the standing position and lack of general anesthesia, the use of an operating microscope, which is critical for precise corneal and intraocular surgeries, is not possible.
• This inability prevents the performance of exact corneal and intraocular microsurgeries, which argues against the application of the concept of standing ophthalmic surgeries for more complex and delicate procedures.

Implications and Future Directions

• The exploration of this standing ophthalmic surgery approach may aid in circumventing some of the risks and complications associated with general anesthesia in horses, especially for more routine or less complex surgeries.
• However, for more precise procedures, this technique may fall short, suggesting a need for more research to increase the precision and broaden the range of possible surgeries in the standing horse.