Surgery
Corneal Surgery: Corneal laceration, corneal ulceration, corneal perforation, corneal transplantation, corneal sequestrum.
Occasionally, when an animal's eye becomes blind and painful, a recommendation is often made to remove the eye (enucleation). This is a procedure which many veterinarians are prepared to perform, and the results are typically successful in producing a comfortable patient in which further eye care is no longer needed.
Many owners do not like to comtemplate removal of an eye, however, and another option exsits. This procedure (evisceration/ocular prosthesis) consists of removing the diseased portions of the inner eye and replacing them with a silicone sphere. Following surgery, the only parts visible would be the original outer cornea and sclera. The procedure is somewhat analogous to a dental procedure, in which the diseased inner portions of the tooth are removed whithout altering the outer dental enamal. Evisceration has been performed successfully for many years with few postoperative complications.
This procedure involves removing the eye/eyeball itself and stitching the eyelids closed. Various techniques are available to prevent a "sunken eye socket" look and include the implantation of an orbital prosthetic implant or the use of the Mughannan technique. Orbital implants are mostly used in dogs, where the Mughannan technique is commonly used in cats in this clinic.
Ocular Prosthesis
The contents (inside) of the eye are removed surgically and a prosthetic
implant is placed in the shell (cornea and sclera) of the eye. In the
immediate post-operative period there is marked corneal vascularization
and the eye will look enflamed; this is normal. The end result is cosmetically
pleasing to most owners and offers a good alternative to eye removal.
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Animal Eye Clinic
204 Medford-Mt. Holly Rd (Rt 541)
Medford, NJ 08055-9623
Phone (609) 654-0304 - Fax (609) 714 1479