Neuro-ophthalmic Tests for Assessment of Vision Before and After Phacoemulsification in Cataractous Dogs

Background: The aim of current study was to assess pre and post-operative vision status through neuro-ophthalmic examination of 24 canine eyes after phacoemulsification with implantation of different acrylic intra ocular lenses. Methods: The study was conducted on 24 canine eyes. Preoperatively, detailed neuro-ophthalmic tests viz. Menace response, Pupillary light reflex (PLR), Obstacle Course and Moving object (cotton ball) were conducted for assessment of vision due to cataract and to exclude other ocular pathologies. Dogs were divided in four groups with 6 eyes in each group and subjected to phacoemulsification procedure for removal of cataractous lens and implanted with square edge or round edge, hydrophilic or hydrophobic intra ocular lenses (IOL). Post operatively, aforementioned neuro-ophthalmic tests were conducted on 3, 7 and 15 days and scores were given and comparatively analysed for vision acuity. Result: Preoperatively, neuro-opthalmic tests indicated poor and absent vision in eyes affected with various stages of cataract. Post operatively, the visual outcome in dogs of all treatment groups were assessed from the scores obtained in various neuro-ophthalmic tests. Neuro-ophthalmic evaluation revealed restoration of vision in 50% dogs in group I, II, IV and in 66.66% dogs of group III on day 15 after phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. It was concluded that neuro-ophthalmic tests are useful and mandatory protocols for pre and post-operative vision assessment in dogs with cataract.