Common Ocular Surgeries

Blepharoplasty involves surgical altering of one or more eyelids. This surgery is most often used to correct inverted (entropion) or everted (ectropion) eyelids, to narrow the eyelid openings in brachycephalic breeds (medial canthoplasty), to reconstruct the eyelid margin due to genetic or traumatic defects, and to remove eyelid masses.

For some patients with primary glaucoma, chemical ciliary body ablation may be a surgical option instead of eye removal. Your pet’s ophthalmologist can discuss the benefits and risks of this procedure to determine if your pet qualifies for this alternative surgery.

A corneal graft surgery is performed to correct or heal a corneal defect, such as an ulcer. Various types of grafts are available to stabilize the cornea. Your pet’s ophthalmologist will discuss the various types of grafts and which graft is most appropriate for your pet’s underlying condition.

Cryotherapy has many uses in veterinary ophthalmology. Most often, it is used to devitalize hair follicles from aberrant hair conditions (trichiasis, distichiasis, ectopic cilia) or to devitalize cells after tumor removal to attempt to prevent regrowth of the mass.

A diode laser can be used to treat or prevent a variety of veterinary ophthalmic diseases. Common uses included: glaucoma treatment, retinopexy, uveal melanoma management.

Unfortunately, some ocular disease processes will not respond to medical therapy and will result in eye removal to maintain your pet’s overall comfort and health. After the globe is removed, the patient’s eyelids are permanently closed. Your ophthalmologist will not recommend enucleation unless it is in your pet’s best interest.

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Evisceration of the eye is a surgical procedure that preserves the outer layer of the globe while removing the diseased internal contents. In some ocular diseases, this may be an alternative to eye removal (enucleation).

Various surgical options are available for pets with glaucoma. Your ophthalmologist will discuss which surgical option is ideal for your pet based on several factors. Some surgical options include: laser, goniovalve, chemical ciliary body ablation.

Cornal surgery such as a keratotomy or keratectomy may be necessary for certain corneal diseases. These surgeries involve altering or removing part of the cornea to encourage healing or remove abnormal tissue, such as sequestrum or dermoid.

Ocular trauma, advanced cataract, or lens instability may require surgical removal of your pet’s lens. Veterinary cataract surgery is performed similarly to surgery in human patients, where an artificial lens replaces the cataract to help improve vision.

The gland associated with a dog’s third eyelid is prone to prolapse in certain breeds. This gland is responsible for a large portion of tear production and removal of the gland is only recommended if cancer is suspected. In most patients, this gland can be repositioned successfully with surgery to attempt to prevent lifelong conditions such as dry eye.

Excessive facial trauma may result in displacement of the eye out of the orbit (eye socket). In many cases, the eye can be successfully repositioned into the orbit. Vision may or may not be present after this traumatic event.