PHACOEMULSIFICATION FOR MORGAGNIAN CATARACT IN A YOUNG DOG: CASE REPORT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25110/arqvet.v29i1.2026-12821Keywords:
Lens, Ophthalmic surgery, Phacolytic uveitis, Veterinary ophthalmologyAbstract
Cataract is defined as an opacity of the lens and/or its capsule and is an ocular condition capable of causing vision loss, intraocular inflammation, and other complications such as glaucoma. Surgical intervention is the only effective treatment, with phacoemulsification being the technique of choice. This study aimed to report the case of a young dog that underwent bilateral phacoemulsification for the treatment of rapidly progressive asymmetric cataract. A 3-year-and-7-month-old mixed-breed dog with a history of progressive lens opacity was examined. Initial ophthalmic evaluation revealed an incipient cataract in the right eye (OD) and a hypermature cataract in the left eye (OS). Four months later, cataract progression was observed in both eyes, being classified as immature in the OD and hypermature Morgagnian in the OS, both associated with phacolytic uveitis. The patient underwent preoperative evaluation, including hematological tests, electroretinography (ERG), ocular ultrasonography, and periodontal prophylaxis. Bilateral phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation was subsequently performed without intraoperative complications. During the postoperative period, fibrin formation developed in the OS and was successfully treated with intracameral administration of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). The patient regained vision and showed complete resolution of uveitis. These findings reinforce the importance of early diagnosis and timely surgical intervention to achieve a favorable prognosis, even in advanced cases with lens resorption.
Downloads
References
ADKINS, E. A.; HENDRIX, D. V. H. Outcomes of Dogs Presented for Cataract Evaluation: A Retrospective Study. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, v. 41, n. 4, p. 235–240, 2005. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5326/0410235.
BIROS, D. J. et al. Development of glaucoma after cataract surgery in dogs: 220 cases (1987–1998). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, v. 217, n. 12, p. 1805–1810, 2000.
FISCHER, M. C.; MEYER-LINDENBERG, A. Progression and complications of canine cataracts for different stages of development and aetiologies. Journal of Small Animal Practice, 2018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jsap.12910.
GELATT, K. N.; GILGER, B. C.; KERN, T. J. (ed.). Veterinary Ophthalmology. 6. ed. Hoboken: Wiley-Blackwell, 2021. 2 v.
HENDRIX, D. et al. Clinical signs, concurrent diseases, and risk factors associated with retinal detachment in dogs. Progress in Veterinary and Comparative Ophthalmology, v. 3, p. 87–91, 1992.
KANG, M. G. et al. A case of cataract surgery using phacoemulsification in a 12-year-old poodle. Korean Journal of Veterinary Service, v. 45, n. 3, p. 221–228, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7853/kjvs.2022.45.3.221.
LACERDA, L. C. C. et al. Molecular characterization and potential sources of aqueous humor bacterial contamination during phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation in dogs. Veterinary Microbiology, v. 213, p. 95–101, 2018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2017.11.028.
LIM, C. C. et al. Cataracts in 44 dogs (77 eyes): a comparison of outcomes for no treatment, topical medical management, or phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation. Canadian Veterinary Journal, v. 52, p. 283–288, 2011.
MAGGS, D. J.; MILLER, P. E.; OFRI, R. (ed.). Slatter’s Fundamentals of Veterinary Ophthalmology. 6. ed. St. Louis: Saunders, 2017.
MAŚLANKA, T. et al. CD4- and CD8-expressing cells in the chambers of normal, cataract and uveitic eyes: A comparative study in dogs. Research in Veterinary Science, v. 133, p. 1–5, 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2020.07.021.
PARK, S. et al. Deep learning-based classification of canine cataracts from ocular B-mode ultrasound images. Animals, Basel, v. 15, n. 9, p. 1327, 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15091327.
SHARMA, R. K.; MAHAJAN, S. K.; SANGWAN, V. Management of cataract in dogs: clinical study of 22 cases. Journal of Advances in Biotechnology & Bioengineering, v. 27, n. 1, p. 1–8, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.9734/JABB/2024/v27i1677.
SIGLE, K. J. Long-term complications after phacoemulsification for cataract removal in dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, v. 228, n. 1, p. 74–79, 2006.
TERHAAR, H. M. et al. Pro-inflammatory cytokines in aqueous humor from dogs with anterior uveitis and post-operative ocular hypertension following phacoemulsification, primary glaucoma, and normal healthy eyes. PLoS One, v. 17, n. 8, e0273449, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0273449.
VLACHOMITROU, I. E. et al. The effect of total ultrasound time, average ultrasonic power, and effective phacoemulsification time on post-operative outcomes in dogs undergoing phacoemulsification surgery. Topics in Companion Animal Medicine, v. 69, p. 101010, 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tcam.2025.101010.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Julia Mehlich Bussacos, Úrsula Chaves Guberman, Matheus da Silva Pedro, Stéfano Lievori Fernandes, Cristiane dos Santos Honsho
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
