CATARACTS

What is a cataract?

A cataract is the opacity of the lens. The lens is normally clear and transparent. When a cataract forms the lens itself goes cloudy. A cataract is not a film or coating of the eye, but the inside of the lens – the lens protein goes cloudy. A cataract can affect just a small part of the lens, or it can affect the entire lens. With small cataracts they may not have any effect on vision. If the cataract involves the whole lens in both eyes then vision will be affected. In the more severe cataracts you may notice that the pupil, which normally appears black, has undergone a color change and becomes bluish or white.

What can cause a cataract?

In most cases we do not find a cause for the cataracts, they just develop. The most common causes we find include diabetes, inherited causes in purebred dogs, and PRA (progressive retinal atrophy). Breeds seen at Animal Eye Care with inherited cataracts include Cocker Spaniels, Poodles, Australian Cattle Dogs, Maltese, Boston Terriers, Bichon Frises and Golden Retrievers. It is difficult (except in some diabetics) to look at a cataract and determine the cause.

What should I do if I suspect my pet has a cataract?

If you or your local veterinarian has noticed clouding of the eyes, or poor vision, then your pet should be examined by a veterinary ophthalmologist, and given a comprehensive eye examination. This will involve dilating the pupils and examining the lens with special equipment. The nature of the cloudiness will be determined. If a cataract is present then its size, position and type of cataract will be determined. It is best to perform this examination before the cataracts become too developed.

Why do we need to check the retina the nerve tissue?

The retina (the nerve tissue at the back of the eye) must be healthy for cataract surgery to restore vision. Many purebred dogs such as Labradors, Australian Cattle Dogs, Australian and Silky Terriers, Poodles, and Cocker Spaniels can have retinal disease. The most common retinal disease is PRA (progressive retinal atrophy) which is an inherited disease. PRA in the early stages can cause poor night vision, then later poor day vision but also usually causes cataracts to form. In many cases the early signs of PRA are overlooked, even by the most diligent of owners, and it is assumed that the cataracts are the cause of the vision loss. In these cases the dog is blind because of the cataracts and the PRA, and cataract surgery will not restore vision.

Electroretinography (ERG)

If we cannot see the retina because the cataract is too cloudy, an ERG (electroretinogram) will be performed. This is an electrical test of the retina. This will require half a day in hospital and sedation. Using a computer we measure the electrical response to bright lights flashed into the eye. If the retina is healthy the ERG will show a normal wave pattern, if the retina is diseased with PRA the ERG is flat. The ERG will not show early retinal detachments. PRA is diagnosed with the ERG when we are not able to see through to the retina because the cataracts are too cloudy. If the PRA is only in the early stages – as detected with the ERG - then cataract surgery may improve vision for 6 to 18 months, but as the PRA is progressive the patient will eventually go blind. The ERG is a test of the electrical function of the eye.

Ultrasonography

As part of the general workup before surgery we may perform ocular ultrasonography. This is often done with the ERG. The ultrasound is used to image the inside of the eye; in these cases we are checking to make sure that the eye is healthy enough for surgery. In particular we are looking for advanced degenerations of the vitreous, and or retinal detachment. The ultrasound can be considered as a structural examination of the eye.

What is cataract/lens induced uveitis (inflammation)?

As cataracts form, the lens protein inside the eye changes. This change may allow the lens protein to leak into the inside of the eye. This causes inflammation inside the eye, and this must be treated. Lens induced uveitis can cause painful outcomes such as glaucoma, and or lens luxation. Pre-operative lens induced uveitis will lower the success rate of cataract surgery. Lens induced uveitis can be controlled in most cases with long-term drops and in some cases tablets. Surgery is often helpful in some cases to help control the lens induced uveitis. The cataracts that develop because of the PRA will often cause this lens-induced uveitis. Watch for signs of redness on the whites of the eye. If treated early, painful outcomes such as glaucoma and lens luxation can be avoided.

What is the treatment for Cataracts?

Surgery is the only effective method to remove the cloudy lens from the eye. There are no known preventative treatments for cataracts. From time to time various drops, lotions, pills, and special diets have been suggested to help with cataracts. These have not been proven to help dissolve or reduce a cataract. More details on cataract surgery are outlined on our Cataract Surgery handout.

Should my pet have cataract surgery?

Most blind animals cope very well as they have good senses of smell, hearing and they know their home environments extremely well. Successful cataract surgery can greatly improve an animal’s quality of life. Factors that need to be considered include the patient’s age, general health, and the health of the eyes themselves. In some older dogs we often ask your local veterinarian to run blood and urine tests before surgery. The decision on whether to remove a cataract is a joint one between you, your local veterinarian and Animal Eye Care. Please feel free to speak to us at any time if you have any additional questions regarding cataracts or cataract surgery.

Official Cataract Handout - RIGHT click and SAVE AS