Cataract surgery
Evaluation of the Eye
3 days before cataract surgery
3 days before cataract surgery
Three important tests need to be done before cataract surgery is undertaken.
- Gonioscopy – performed in the consult room – assess the risk of glaucoma developing after cataract surgery.
- ERG – Electroretinogram – performed on the day of the surgery – assess the health of the retina. If the retina is damaged, cataract surgery will not restore vision.
- Ultrasonography – performed on the day of the surgery – assess if eye structures are healthy and there is no retinal detachment.
3 days before cataract surgery
3 days before cataract surgery
3 days before cataract surgery
Patient will need to start medications before cataract surgery.
- Voltaren 3 times daily
- Prednefrin forte 3 times daily
On the day of surgery
On the day of surgery
On the day of surgery
Patients must arrive at the clinic between 8.00-830 am so they can be admitted for eye drops before surgery,
be started on intravenous fluids and to have their blood glucose checked (if diabetic).
Eye drops are used for 2 hours before cataract surgery begins.
DO NOT give your dog breakfast on the morning of the surgery.
Access to water is allowed.
--- Diabetic Patients ---
Give ½ of the normal morning insulin dose and NO food.
MUST BRING THE FOLLOWING:
- 2 MEALS IN SEPARATE CONTAINERS
- INSULIN
- YOUR OWN TYPES OF NEEDLES
Patients are given an anaesthetic
ERG and Ultrasound are performed. (If they fail either of the tests, surgery will most probably not proceed)
Cataract surgery performed
Eye pressure is monitored for the afternoon
Patient is discharged in the afternoon/evening
Patient MUST come the next day for his/her first post-operative check.
Care after Surgery
On the day of surgery
On the day of surgery
4 visits are required over the first 4 weeks after surgery.
As a guide these are:
DAY 1, DAY 4, DAY 11 and DAY 24 POST SURGERY.
These visits are included in the surgery fee. Following this time we advise 6 monthly checks to ensure the health of the eye. These are charged out as revisit consultations.
Drops to control infection, pressure and inflammation are given immediately after surgery. Long term anti-inflammatory and anti-glaucoma drops are usually required.
Keeping quiet is essential - No barking, no playing with other dogs and no walking (going out to the garden to the toilet is fine)
Head collar MUST be worm for the first 7 days.
POST OP CARE
What to look for
Please contact us if you notice any of the following:
- Squinting
- Excessive redness (a small amount is normal – especially near the incision)
- Cloudiness/blue haze
- Poor vision
- Discharge – watery or mucky
How to check the eyes
We will show you how to perform the following tests:
- Menace response each eye
- Shine torch into the eyes to check clarity and pupil movement
Activity
For the first 7 days, the following instructions are important:
- Keep the Elizabethan collar on
- Lead walk only to go to the toilet
- Keep as quiet as possible
- Try to minimise barking
- No playing with toys that involve shaking the head. This applies for the first 6 weeks.
After this time, you can bring your dog for longer lead walks. These can gradually be increased over the first month to normal length lead walks. Do not bath your dog for 2 weeks.
Post-operative Checks
There are 4 post-op checks included in the surgery fee
- 1 day after surgery
- 3-5 days after surgery
- 10-12 days after surgery
- 3-4 weeks after surgery
We then check the eyes 1-3 months later, then every 6-12 months. There is a fee charged for these checks.
If you are worried between these checks, don’t hesitate to call us. Most complications can be treated quickly with a good outcome as long as they are seen as soon as possible.
