Question:
My toy pomeranian is thirteen years old and currently has one full cataract
in her left eye. She has had this for about 11/2 years. We now believe she
is developing a cataract in the other eye. It is still in the early stages,
just beginning to turn gray. We would like to know if there is anything we
can do to prevent the second cataract from getting worse, before it destroys
her vision. Are there any other alternatives besides surgery?
Answer:
One should exclude all possible illnesses that cause cataract. Especially if
the cataract develops quikly and in both eyes simultaniously one should
consider diabetes. If there are no underlying causes found it is likely that
the cataract is due to old age. If there are no diseases present no measures
can be taken to prevent the cataract from getting worse.
The best treatment is no treatment. Surgery will help the owner not the dog,
even with a bad cataract a dog will see something and is very well capable
to adjust. Surgery is allways a risk and in this case very unnecessary.
The policy of my ophthalmology instructor was to first ensure that the
patient is a good candidate for anesthesia, and of course to ensure that
no uncontrolled systemic disease such as diabetes has caused the
cataracts. If the animal is a candidate, it was then anesthetized for ERG
tests (electroretinography) to see if the animal WOULD be able to see
without the cataract. If that checks out, it goes to surgery immediately.
Both of the dogs I admitted for cataract surgery unfortunately had
negative ERGs, suggesting bilateral retinal degeneration, so they didn't
go to surgery .
