The Dedicated Ophthalmology Referral Practice

The prognosis

Assessment of vision can be difficult. Visual responses such as pupillary light response (PLR), menace and dazzle reactions, and the ability to follow cotton wool balls are a start. However, as our patients cannot read, a chart is of no help.

If Fido would bark at a picture of a cat and drool at a picture of a bone, we could maybe consider flip cards! Research is progressing into the use of visually evoked potentials and pattern electro-retinography but these are a long way from being practical clinical tests. The most useful approach is to listen to the owners describing how their pets behave in their home environment.

What is your pet able to do that he or she could not do before cataract surgery?

• Able to see a squirrel at 50 metres.
• Less nervous with other dogs as he can see them.
• Able to see the fish in the garden pond.
• Chases bees in the garden and has flattened the flowers on the rockery!
• Sits back in his old place on top of the sofa in the sitting room, looking out at people walking down the road.
• More confident to go off running when out for a walk.
• Watched a fly crawling on the ceiling yesterday!
• Watched a hot air balloon drift quietly high overhead.
• He is back to his old self!
• These comments indicate improved quality of life for the animals, happy owners giving positive feedback to their referring veterinary practices and good job satisfaction for the surgical team.

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A wallaby in the recovery position. The nearest thing to a pouch we could find was a wooly hat - and very comfortable he was too!

1. Technology and Microsurgery

2. Phacoemulsification

3. Post-operative retinal detachment

4. Prognosis