Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dry eye after cataract surgery in diabetic and nondiabetic dogs
By Gemensky-Metzler, Anne J et al.·Published in Veterinary ophthalmology·2015·The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Retrospective study of the prevalence of keratoconjunctivitis sicca in diabetic and nondiabetic dogs after phacoemulsification.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that nearly 27% of diabetic dogs developed keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS), or dry eye, within two weeks after cataract surgery, compared to 15% of nondiabetic dogs. The risk of KCS was higher in small diabetic dogs and large dogs that had lower tear production before surgery. While the percentage of dogs with KCS decreased over time, the first two weeks after surgery were the most critical for monitoring this condition. If your dog is diabetic or has had recent eye surgery, it’s important to watch for signs of dry eyes and consult your vet if you notice any symptoms.
People also search for: dog dry eye after surgery · diabetic dog eye problems · cataract surgery complications in dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) in diabetic and nondiabetic dogs following phacoemulsification. PROCEDURES: Medical records were reviewed for signalment, body weight, diabetes status, and STT at the preoperative and all postoperative examinations. A clinical diagnosis of KCS was defined as a STT <15 mm/min with compatible clinical signs. Schirmer tear test values and the prevalence of KCS based on STT <15 mm/min were evaluated at 2-4, 5-8, 9-14, 15-20, and 41-52 weeks postoperatively. Size of dog (large, >10 kg; small, ≤10 kg) and STT ranges (<15 mm/min, 15-22 mm/min and >22 mm/min) were categorized for analysis of effect of body weight and STT on prevalence of KCS. RESULTS: One hundred and seventeen nondiabetic (198 eyes) and 118 diabetic dogs (228 eyes) were evaluated. KCS was diagnosed in nearly twice as many diabetics as nondiabetics (27.4% vs. 15.4%) within 2 weeks postoperatively (P = 0.0088). Percentage of eyes with KCS among all dogs decreased over time and did not differ significantly after the first postoperative visit. Diabetic small dogs were 1.7 times more likely to have KCS than nondiabetic small dogs (P = 0.0052). Preoperative STT was significantly associated with likelihood of postoperative KCS among large (P < 0.0001), but not small dogs (P = 0.0781). Among large dogs, eyes with STTs between 15 and 22 mm/min were approximately 3 times more likely to be diagnosed with KCS after surgery than those with STT >22 mm/min. CONCLUSION: The greatest risk for KCS for all dogs is during the first 2 weeks postoperatively. Populations at greatest risk for postoperative KCS are small dogs, small diabetic dogs, and large dogs with preoperative STT ≤22.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25429857/