ADVICE
Enucleation
Enucleation is the term used to describe the removal of an eye. This may seem like a drastic thing to do, but there are several indications why it might be the best course of action for your pet. These might include the following eye conditions:
- Glaucoma (high pressure within the eye)
- Severe inflammation or infection
- Tumours/cancer
- Severe trauma.
If an eye is blind and is not painful, then its removal is not usually necessary. However, if the eye is blind and painful with no hope of vision being restored, then it should be removed on welfare grounds. In addition, if there is a suspected tumour of the eye, then removal might be advised if there is a concern it could spread to the rest of the body.
It is usually quite obvious if an animal's eye becomes suddenly painful. They may rub at the eye or face, blink more than normal, be averse to bright light, the eye might have a discharge, or it may appear red and/or swollen. If the eye becomes gradually painful, however, then the signs of discomfort can be difficult to notice. Examination by your veterinary surgeon or an ophthalmologist can provide more clues as to whether the eye is likely to be causing your pet discomfort.
Owners are often reluctant to consent to enucleation on aesthetic grounds, or due to their own perceptions that the eye is not painful or retains some vestige of visual function. Once owners are counseled regarding the irreversible loss of vision and the ongoing discomfort associated with conditions such as chronic glaucoma, removal of the eye is usually seen as the most appropriate option. There is often a significant improvement in a patient's general demeanour following removal of a chronically painful eye that reinforces to the owner that the correct decision was made.
What happens during the operation?
For the operation, the pet must be under general anaesthesia. The hair from around the eye is clipped and the whole eye is removed along with the eyelids. Following this, the skin is stitched together with intradermal skin sutures. Therefore, no sutures will be visible on the area and there will be no stitches to be removed after surgery.
What happens after the operation?
The pet may be sent home with a short course of antibiotics and/or painkillers, but they are usually quite comfortable following the procedure. The area is likely to appear bruised and swollen for several days and there may be a slight blood-tinged discharge either from the wound or from the nostril – this is completely normal. The operation site is checked approximately 10 days later. The long-term cosmetic result following an enucleation is usually quite good. There will be a slight depression over the area where the eye was removed, although this may not be noticeable, particularly if the pet's hair is long.
It is usually recommended to send the eye away to a laboratory to be checked for the cause of the disease. This is important as the findings might have implications for the other eye or for the rest of the patient's health.
Potential complications of enucleation are unusual, but include infection or cyst formation. If the area appears particularly hot, painful, swollen or has a discharge, then you should contact your veterinary surgeon immediately.