Frequency of retinal detachments in dogs after prophylactic transpupillary retinopexy

To evaluate the frequency of retinal detachments following prophylactic transpupillary retinopexy (PTPRP).

The medical records of dogs that received a PTPRP between 2014 and 2022 were retrospectively analyzed for age, sex, breed, reason for retinopexy, laser power setting, number of retinal burns, follow-up duration, and outcome. Laser power settings were increased until retinal burns could be visualized and were made 360° in a double row in the peripheral retina.

Fifty-seven cases (75 eyes), 28 males and 29 females, had PTPRP performed. The median age was 8 years (4 months-14 years) with Shih tzu (n = 12), Bichon (n = 5), Miniature Poodle (n = 5), and Yorkie (n = 4) being the most common breeds. PTPRP were performed due to severe vitreal degeneration (n = 66), retinal detachment in the contralateral eye (n = 25), capsular tear with escaped lens material during phacoemulsification (n = 6), intracapsular lens extraction (n = 2), and lens luxation during phacoemulsification (n = 3). The median power setting, number of retinal burns, and follow-up time were 300 mW (201-595 mW), 210 burns (35-921 burns), and 473 days (14-1862 days), respectively. Additionally, five patients had a barrier-pexy performed in the contralateral eye, due to partial detachment. Retinal detachment occurred in 3/75 (4.0%) of eyes that received a PTPRP at the final examination. Of the patients with a detachment in the contralateral eye (n = 25), no detachment was noted at the last follow-up examination. Two partial detachments that had barrier-pexies had progressed at the final examination.

These results demonstrate that PTPRP may be beneficial in decreasing the risk of retinal detachment in selected cases.