2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21
Enucleation of the eyeball is the removal of the eye. It is an irreversible treatment for various visual impairments. It is used in cases where the disease threatens the life of the animal.
Enucleation of the eyeball: indications
The following reasons are identified:
- Severe permanent injury such as a perforated or torn eyeball.
- Uncontrolled glaucoma.
- Infection or inflammation on the surface or inside of the eye that does not respond to therapy.
- Eye cancer.
- Congenital deformities of the eye.
- Eye diseases outside the orbit.
- Illnesses inside the eye that can spread to the rest of the body.
Enucleation of the eyeball is also reserved as a last resort for pain relief in any eye, especially if it is blind and not needed by the animal. Enucleation and blindness are well tolerated by dogs and cats.
Veterinary care for eye removal in cats
Before enucleation of the cat's eyeball, attempts are usually made to save the eye. Thanks to the advances that have taken place over the past 20 years in the field of veterinary ophthalmology, nowmany previously untreatable eye conditions can be successfully treated and, in many cases, the animal's vision can be preserved.
When cancer is diagnosed in or around the eyes, when the eye is blind and persistently painful, or when the cost of treating the eye is too high for the owner, enucleation of the eyeball may be chosen as the initial treatment.
Surgical procedure
There are two surgical options for enucleation:
- Removal of all tissues inside the eyeball, including muscles and other nearby tissues, is called ectotherapy. This procedure is used primarily to remove a cancerous mass in the eye.
- Removal of the eyeball without taking all surrounding tissue is called enucleation and is the most commonly performed procedure. After removal of the eye, the edges of the eyelids are permanently closed with a suture. As the coat grows back, the cat's appearance will return to normal.
Sometimes an orbital implant is used. It is placed after the removal of the eye, in order to restore the volume of the eyeball and improve the movement or mobility of the eye prosthesis and eyelid. The eyeball is a slightly elongated sphere with a diameter of about 24 millimeters. To avoid falling into the eye socket, an implant approximating this volume can be placed in the space of the removed eye, fixed and covered with a capsule and mucous membrane covering the natural sclera. Implants can be made from many materials, the most common beingwhich are plastic, hydroxyapatite, metal alloy or glass.
Later, once the conjunctiva has healed and postoperative swelling has subsided, an ocular prosthesis can be created to provide the appearance of a natural eye. Its shape is a cup-shaped disc so that it can fit comfortably in a pocket behind the eyelids over the conjunction that covers the orbital implant. The outer part of the ocular prosthesis is colored and finished to mimic the natural eye color, shape and shine. It can be periodically removed and cleaned.
Enucleation postoperative care
After surgery, the incision (suture area) must be protected until healing is complete. The cat may be sent home with an Elizabethan collar to prevent rubbing or injury to the surgical site. Antibiotics may be given if the eye or orbit becomes infected during surgery.
There is usually a slight post-op swelling, and if the eye was inflamed before the operation, bruising may also be seen in the area. Sometimes the cat may sneeze, and a small amount of bleeding fluid may come out of the nostril on the same side where the operation was performed. These symptoms are usually tolerable for two to four days. Stitches are usually removed after seven to ten days.
Keep a close eye on your pet after surgery. If there are any signs of persistent swelling, if there is any leakage from the sutures, if the animal is not feeling well, report it to the veterinarian. Most pets are fully healed from surgery and are fine within 48-72 hours.
What is the result of enucleation?
The purpose of enucleation is to relieve the pain caused by the original condition of the eye that led to the operation. Most animals recover within a few days of the procedure. Provided that the remaining eye is functioning (that is, that it can see), dogs do not feel the loss of one eye. After a short period of adaptation, their mobility and behavior return to normal. Sometimes a dog needs both eyes removed. It may seem strange or cruel, but it has its merits. Surgery can improve quality of life and eliminate pain. Of course, these are dogs with special needs, they need extra care and a safe environment, but they are generally happy to be he althy and loved by their owner.
