Preoperative findings and visual outcome associated with retinal reattachment surgery in dogs: 217 cases (275 eyes)

Abstract

Giant retinal tears in dogs can be successfully managed via PPV with SiO tamponade and endolaser retinopexy. Vision was maintained in the majority of cases with long-term follow-up. Patient history and thorough ophthalmic examination with attention to retinal tissue architecture are important in assessing surgical candidacy.

Electroretinography is a prognostic indicator for postoperative vision in dogs undergoing retinal reattachment surgery

“…This hypothesis implies that the duration of RD is a prognostic indicator, though this is not supported by our findings or those of others . It is possible that unknown factors determine the susceptibility (or resistance) of the outer retina to hypoxia and ischemia, thus accounting for the large range of RD duration seen in canine eyes that regain vision in this study and others . Based on our results, veterinary ophthalmologists may counsel owners of RD dogs that there is a 2/3 probability that eyes with a flat ERG will regain vision and that the probability of regaining vision is significantly higher (100% in our limited series) if there is a recordable ERG in the eye.…”

“…We assume that such degenerative changes had occurred in the ten eyes with a flat ERG that did not regain normal vision . This hypothesis implies that the duration of RD is a prognostic indicator, though this is not supported by our findings or those of others . It is possible that unknown factors determine the susceptibility (or resistance) of the outer retina to hypoxia and ischemia, thus accounting for the large range of RD duration seen in canine eyes that regain vision in this study and others .…”

“…report that postoperative vision was not significantly affected by the duration of RD, nor by the presence of PLR's . The authors found the pre‐operative presence of a menace response to be significantly correlated with postoperative vision; however, the response was present pre‐operatively only in 57 of 275 of their eyes even though 198 of 275 eyes were sighted at any point in time during the follow‐up . Both Steele et al .…”

“…Several retrospective studies of canine RRS have been published in recent years, reporting return of vision in 67%–90% of cases . However, to date, there is no consensus among veterinary vitreoretinal surgeons regarding pre‐operative variables that may help determine the prognosis for vision following RRS.…”

“…agree that the pre‐operative appearance of the retina has a significant effect on postoperative vision, but Spatola et al . admit that these criteria are “quite subjective.”…”