Phacoemulsification Combined with Pars Plana Vitrectomy: Outcome in Horses with Acquired Cataracts Associated with Uveitis.
Authors: Kalinovskiy Andrey, Leser Stephan, Ehrle Anna, Reese Sven, Jones Sara, Gerhards Hartmut
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary Uveitis-associated cataracts represent a significant threat to equine vision, with equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) being the leading ocular cause of blindness in horses; however, surgical management of these cataracts remains technically demanding and poorly standardised. Kalinovskiy and colleagues evaluated phacoemulsification combined with pars plana vitrectomy in uveitic horses, specifically comparing outcomes when posterior capsulorhexis was performed versus omitted during lens removal. Their findings regarding postoperative vision outcomes and complication rates—particularly any differences attributable to capsular technique—provide valuable guidance on procedural approaches that could influence long-term visual success. For equine practitioners managing uveitic patients, understanding whether posterior capsulorhexis offers genuine benefit or introduces unnecessary risk is critical to refining surgical protocols that maximise vision preservation. This work addresses a genuine controversy in equine ophthalmology and offers evidence-based direction for optimising surgical technique in one of the most common causes of equine blindness.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Combined phacoemulsification and vitrectomy can help preserve or restore vision in horses blinded by uveitis-related cataracts, offering an alternative to enucleation
- •The decision regarding posterior capsulorhexis during surgery should be based on comparative outcomes data; clinicians should evaluate which technique reduces complications in their patient population
- •Early surgical intervention before cataract maturation may improve prognosis, as ERU cataracts progress rapidly
Key Findings
- •Phacoemulsification combined with pars plana vitrectomy is a viable surgical approach for managing uveitis-associated cataracts in horses
- •The study compared outcomes between phacoemulsification with and without posterior capsulorhexis techniques
- •Vision outcomes and complication rates were evaluated post-operatively in horses undergoing combined PE-PPV procedures