Pseudophakia Is Associated With an Increased Risk of Post-Operative Fibrin Formation in Dogs Undergoing...

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Ophthalmology
• Ophthalmic Surgery
• Canine Health

Background:

• Fibrin formation is a potential complication following intraocular surgery.
• Understanding factors influencing fibrin formation is crucial for improving surgical outcomes in dogs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the incidence and impact of postoperative fibrin formation in dogs undergoing phacoemulsification.
• To compare fibrin formation rates and visual outcomes between pseudophakic (lens-implanted) and aphakic (non-lens-implanted) eyes.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 193 canine eyes (116 dogs) from a UK referral clinic (2016-2020).
• Evaluation of medical records, surgical parameters, and postoperative complications, including fibrin formation and visual outcome at 6 months.
• Statistical analysis using cross-tabulations and Fisher's exact tests.

Main Results:

• Postoperative fibrin formation occurred in 43% of pseudophakic eyes versus 15% of aphakic eyes (p < 0.001).
• Fibrin formation was significantly associated with vision loss in pseudophakic eyes (p = 0.003) but not in aphakic eyes (p = 0.6).
• No association was found between fibrin formation and signalment, concurrent diseases, cataract stage, or ocular hypertension.

Conclusions:

• Pseudophakia following phacoemulsification is associated with a higher incidence of postoperative fibrin formation in dogs.
• While pseudophakia itself was not directly linked to vision loss, fibrin formation in pseudophakic eyes correlated with poorer visual outcomes.