Cataract Surgery -- Pros / Cons / Experiences?
 

Wylie has had hereditary cataracts (not 2ndary to a disease) since he was 5. He only had one in 1 eye for several years. Now, he has them in both eyes and his vision is really bad. He will be 10 in July.

We went to the Ophth back when he had his first cataract, and were told to wait on surgery. We went back again last year when the 2nd cataract was worsening (it's now even worse). The Ophth said that until / unless his vision starts to really affect his life, that her recommendation is to wait. We are now beginning to see some side effects of his poor vision...although, if you met him, you'd really have no clue that he had a vision problem. It's the little things that we, as his Mom/Dad, can notice. He gets around amazingly as long as nothing is out of place....runs around the yard, knows where all the landscaping is etcetera. So it's not reallllly affecting him that much. But, we feel really bad when we do notice it affecting him, and feel bad that he can't see well.

We're conflicted on whether to get the surgery...I've heard good and bad about it. Also, someone recently told me that getting the surgery can really increase the chances of glaucoma developing.

If you've gone through it, what do you see as pros/cons...what was your experience? What did you pay for it, if you feel comfortable sharing that? It will cost us about 4k to do one eye, and about $5500 to do both eyes.

Thanks for any advice!

Peek A Boo had cataracts in both eyes since I got him at 5yo. On his 1st vet visit she asked how long he had been blind! I knew he could see by the way he got around (in new surroundings). I priced the surgery a few times, and it was $3000 for one eye, but what concerned me more (as he was older) was the 50% success rate. He still had some sight, a lot actually. I started giving him coconut oil in his food and his cataracts stopped getting worse (less cloudy), and I think his vision even improved. I decided not to put him through the surgery, and he had vision till the day he passed on, at 17 years old.

Poor Wylie! I'm glad that he is doing well getting around.

I did not know that cataract surgery increases the chance of glaucoma. Is this the same in humans? There is hope regarding glaucoma in dogs: Jeane (YT screen name and name) has a boy, Morgan, who was diagnosed with glaucoma and he has done very well with medication and regular checkups. No adverse effects.

Lexi43's Oliver had cataract surgery on both eyes and has done well. Hopefully she will share her experience.

Sending lots of love to Wylie.

Sending loves to Wiley. I was wondering if his Cushings contributes or complicates to cataracts and treatment results.

My only knowledge of cataract surgery was my friend's mixed large breed dog had them removed at age 5 (due to diabetes) at a cost of $3,000 per eye; good results. My mini schnauzer had cataracts and low vision in his last year, but I didn't treat at age 15. He surprisingly navigated around pretty well, even though he was also deaf.

Slowing Wiley's vision loss sounds liked a worthy goal for the moment, if that is possible.

Ann, you may have already seen this thread in your searches, but I thought I would link it just in case. I remembered reading here about the possibility of eye drops to slow the progression or reverse cataracts.

Drops seem to have mixed reviews, but might be something to research:
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/sic...cataracts.html

I hadn't heard of these...my Ophth has never mentioned them to me..wonder if it's bc of the mixed review type thing. Thanks for posting this. I think for Wylie, it'd be too late for these bc his cataracts are pretty much a full eclipse now.

We do give flurbiprofen drops every other day (per the Ophth) as well as cyclosporine ointment for his dry eye. The flubiprofen is kinda supposed to do what those other drops above do, but probably not as specifically.

Geesh, I thought more people had experience w/ cataracts but it looks like it's rarer than I thought. Which isn't a bad thing, lol...I'd rather hear it wasn't common so other yorks didn't have to go through this :).

I wondered the same thing back when he started with them, but the docs said it was unrelated to his Cushings. They said it's super common w/ diabetes, but he didn't have it...so they chalked it up to heredity.

Thanks for the love :)!

Magic was diagnosed with a cataract 5 months shy of his 6th birthday. According to his optho, it is called juvenile cataracts and it is then classified as hereditary cataract condition. Now his is very small, and does not impede his vision too much, so I have never considered surgery for him, and at his age 8 which is definitely senior when the life expectancy averages around 10yr-12yrs tops he will probably never have surgery.

My foster also has a small cataract in his right eye, again for sure it is not interfering with his vision (as far as I can tell).

I have never had a pup that had cataract surgery. I have heard of really good results though from people I know.

I had my George evaluated a few years ago but the ophthalmologist told me he was not a good candidate due to a poor drainage system in his eyes. He said the surgery would likely bring on glaucoma because of that. I don't know that it normally would do that.

Sorry I cannot be of more help.

Cataract Surgery Pros and cons
 

I have a 31/2 year old shih tzu who has had two cataract surgeries since he was 2 years old. The results were wonderful, his vision is perfect in both eyes now. I had a wonderful vet and surgeon and they told me the longer you wait the worse it gets. I never regretted having the surgery. I don't understand any vet saying to wait. Most will prescreen the dog and if there's a problem he will let you know right away. The surgery is expensive. It cost me $3200 for each eye plus the prescreen. I would have done anything to get the money. I would never let a 2 year old dog go blind. I applied for Care Credit and I am paying them off now. When I see Oliver running around playing with the other dogs I am overjoyed. Outside of the cataracts, Oliver has a liver problem and inbetween the cataract surgery they were trying to treat his liver problems so it was touch and go for awhile. So if you love your dog as much as I love Oliver, GO FOR IT!!!!!:p

Thanks so much for sharing your experience. I'm so happy your Oliver is doing so wonderfully :)!

Oliver's mommy you are wonderful! Good job! Oliver is very lucky to have such a great mom!

Veterinary eye care, Animal Eye Care of Western New York Lancaster, NY Our Doctors & Technicians


This is the Dr that did Mini's surgeries on her eyes which was quite complex and very expensive. A friend of mine just had cataracts removed from her beloved Boxer's eyes there about two weeks ago, I saw him Saturday and honestly I forgot he even had the surgery. He looked great.

Sorry to hear about Wylie. I don't have really any advice but just sending good vibes your way.

One of my fosters Dakota had a cataract in one eye. Her other eye was missing, lost in a dog fight :(. She was about 8 yrs old when I fostered her. But I don\'t know how long she\'d had it. She could see plenty good during the day. At dusk was when she had trouble. I remember one time I took her outside to pee around dusk. She was her old happy self running around and waggin her little stump. She ran right into the truck of a palm tree. I felt bad that I was laughing so hard but it was too funny! She was fine btw.

My Phoebe developed a cataract in her left eye at 3 yrs old. I was also told it was called juvenile cataracts, and was hereditary. I opted for the surgery, and am really glad I did. She did very well, and had her 1 year post op check up last week. The news was great, perfect vision, and her other eye is still cataract free. It was a long year of follow ups & eye drops, but we got through it, and I made sure I never missed a dose! The cost of surgery & meds was somewhere between $3000-3500. I\'m really glad I went ahead with the surgery because we had such great results and because she was so young. Yorkies can live to be 18+ years old. I know that 10 is considered "older", but I would seriously consider the surgery if there is any way you can swing the cost. Prayers & good wishes going out to Wylie!