Phacoemulsification and implantation of foldable +14 diopter intraocular lenses in five mature horses.
Authors: Townsend W M, Jacobi S, Bartoe J T
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Intraocular Lens Implantation in Equine Cataract Surgery Cataract surgery in horses has traditionally left animals significantly hyperopic (+10D), compromising vision and quality of life even after successful lens removal. Townsend and colleagues performed phacoemulsification with implantation of +14 diopter foldable intraocular lenses in six eyes across five mature horses with spontaneous cataracts, monitoring refractive error and visual function at 1, 4, and 24 weeks post-operatively. Five of six eyes retained vision with a mean refractive error of +0.4 ± 1.1D at 24 weeks—a statistically significant improvement compared to the +10D refractive error typical of aphakic horses (P<0.0001)—effectively restoring vision to near-emmetropic levels; one globe required enucleation due to post-operative complications at two months. For equine practitioners, this work demonstrates that IOL implantation is a viable surgical option that can meaningfully restore functional vision rather than leaving horses with severe hyperopia, though careful case selection and post-operative monitoring remain essential given the loss rate in this small cohort.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •IOL implantation with +14D foldable lenses can effectively restore near-normal vision in horses with cataracts, eliminating the severe hyperopia that typically results from standard cataract surgery
- •Although rare and technically demanding, this procedure offers working horses the potential for substantially improved functional vision compared to aphakic status
- •Complications requiring globe removal can occur; careful case selection and post-operative monitoring are essential
Key Findings
- •5 of 6 eyes (83%) remained visual following phacoemulsification and +14D IOL implantation
- •Post-operative refractive error averaged +0.4 ± 1.1D at 24 weeks, significantly better than the +10D typical in aphakic horses (P<0.0001)
- •Vision was restored to within 0.4D of emmetropia in 5 of 6 operated eyes
- •One globe required enucleation 2 months post-operatively due to complications