How successful is cataract surgery in horses and what complications can occur during or after cataract surgery?
Using phakoemulsification we are able to restore useful vision in most horses. Just as with cataract surgery in people, a small percentage of horses may have complications associated with the surgery. The main problems encountered are inflammation (uveitis), which tends to be more severe in horses than in people and may result in scarring, which can affect vision. Some horses may develop increased intraocular pressure (glaucoma), which can cause blindness by damaging the optic nerve. Retinal detachment is occasionally seen as a complication of cataract surgery (just as in people). Infection in the eye, which fortunately occurs infrequently, can be a major complication – even resulting in loss of the eye. Obviously as with any surgery there are risks associated with general anesthesia. At EEV we try to minimize these risks by performing blood tests and sometimes chest radiographs and umbilical ultrasonography (in foals) before surgery to detect any other systemic conditions which might
