Enucleation of the eyeball - what is it?

Enucleation of the eyeball is the removal of the eye. This is an irreversible method of treating various visual impairments. It is used in cases when the disease threatens the life of the animal.

Enucleation of the eyeball: indications

Allocate the following reasons:

1. Severe incurable trauma, such as a perforated or torn eyeball.
2. Uncontrolled glaucoma.
3. Infections or inflammation on the surface or inside the eyes that do not respond to therapy.
4. Eye cancer.
5. Congenital deformities of the eye.
6. Diseases of the eyes beyond the orbit.
7. Diseases inside the eye that can spread to the rest of the body.

Enucleation of the eyeball is also reserved as the last option to relieve the pain of any eye, especially if it is blind and not needed by the animal. Enucleation and blindness are well tolerated by dogs and cats.

Veterinary help to remove the eye in cats

Before the enucleation of the eyeball, the cat usually tries to save the eye. Thanks to the achievements that have occurred over the past 20 years in the field of veterinary ophthalmology, it is now possible to successfully treat many eye diseases that previously did not respond to treatment, and in many cases preserve the sight of the animal.

When the cancer is diagnosed inside 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, the enucleation of the eyeball may be chosen as the initial treatment.

Surgical procedure

There are two options for surgical enucleation:

1. The removal of all tissues inside the eyeball, including muscles and other nearby tissues, is called ectoterapy. This procedure is used, first of all, to remove the cancerous mass of the eye.
2. Removal of the eyeball without taking all surrounding tissues is called enucleation and is the most frequently performed procedure. After the removal of the eye, the edges of the eyelids are permanently sealed. When the hair grows, the appearance of the cat will return to normal.

Sometimes an orbital implant is used. It is placed after 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 its entry 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 a mucosa covering the natural sclera. Implants can be made from many materials, the most common of which are plastic, hydroxylapatite, metal alloy or glass.

Later, once the conjunctiva has healed, and the postoperative swelling has decreased, an ocular prosthesis can be created to provide the appearance of the natural eye. Its shape is a cup-shaped disc so that it can comfortably fit in a pocket over the centuries over the conjuncture that covers the orbital implant. The outer part of the ocular prosthesis is colored and completed to simulate the natural color of the eyes, shape and shine. It can be periodically removed and cleaned.

Postoperative care with enucleation

After the operation, the incision (seam portion) should be protected until the healing is complete. A cat can be sent home with an Elizabethan collar to prevent friction or injury to the site of the operation. Antibiotics can be prescribed if the eye or orbit is infected during surgery.

Usually there is a small postoperative tumor, and if the eye was inflamed before surgery, bruises can also be seen in the area. Sometimes a cat can sneeze, and a small amount of bleeding fluid may be released from the nostril on the same side as the operation. These symptoms are usually tolerable within two to four days. Sutures are usually removed after seven to ten days.

Carefully follow your pet after the operation. If there are any signs of persistent edema, if there is any seepage from the joints, if the animal is not feeling well, report it to the veterinarian. Most pets are completely cured of the operation and feel fine for 48-72 hours.

What is the result of enucleation?

The goal of enucleation is to alleviate the pain caused by the initial state of the eye, which led to surgery. Most animals recover within a few days after the procedure. Provided that the remaining eye functions (that is, what it can see), the dogs do not feel the loss of one eye. After a short period of adaptation, their mobility, behavior is back to normal. Sometimes a dog needs to remove both eyes. It may seem strange or cruel, but it has its own merits. The operation can improve the quality of life and eliminate pain. Of course, these are dogs with special needs, they need additional care and a safe environment, but, as a rule, are happy to be healthy and loved by their master.