Care after cataract surgery

Re: Care after cataract surgery

Katie Drew — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 12:07:52 GMT

They may have a different protocol, but we say lead exercise for 7-10days. No throwing toys/balls. Esp as terriers like to shake their toys just to be careful that she doesn't do that.

Re: Care after cataract surgery

Bex Wilton — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 20:40:25 GMT

Hey Katie,

Thanks very much, pretty happy with how today went, everything was explained to me in 'English' even though they know I am a VN. I was told it is very hard to pin-point why a young dog gets a cataract but I believe it is due to trauma.

Just hope she doesnt develop one in the other eye as surgery isnt exactly cheap, not that its a problem but unlikely to put her through it twice.

I just hope she regains some if not all of her sight, the opthamologist is optimistic that she will, as long as complications are few. Just got to sort her skin first.

Thanks for the offer of answering any questions, I am sure I will bend your ear at some point if not more regularly. I think I have a harness that I can dig out and should fit her. Is exercise restricted a lot post op?

Thanks very much

Rebecca and Teabag

Re: Care after cataract surgery

Katie Drew — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 10:48:07 GMT

Also it is worth getting a harness for her, for post op recovery while taking her for walks etc so that it doesn't put pressure around her neck avoiding possible ocular pressure.

Re: Care after cataract surgery

Katie Drew — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 10:43:26 GMT

Hi Rebecca and welcome to the forum.

Im head nurse in Ophthalmology referral If there are any questions you want to ask. Just ask. They will go through everything with you in detail Im sure at your appointment. Without seeing your little one and knowing why the cataract has come about e.g cause etc if can be hard to go into too much detail. But they do really well normally, there can be comlications as with all surgery, but I do enjoy nursing these cases. To see them recover when they have been blind and see how happy they are after surgery having vision again is wonderful! It doesnt tend to be a painful surgery and recovery is very quick.

Any questions please ask.

All the very best.

Katie

Re: Care after cataract surgery

Bex Wilton — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 21:34:09 GMT

Hey

Thanks very muchly for your replies.

It does seem a little daunting, especially as I cant really ask clients how they are getting on (makes me appear a little dim, well more than usual). I am not sure if it will complicate the surgery or condition but she is also atopic and on Artru vaccine, suppose the vet will tell me tomorrow.

Thanks for the reassurance, I would like to preserve her vision as much as possible; its mean to say but watching her bump into things is beginning to become less funny, not that she seems to notice!!!!!

My boyfriend named her, she knows her name very well.

Bex and Teabag xx

Re: Care after cataract surgery

NJ_VN — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 21:26:26 GMT

Hi Bex,

If you get the VN times theres an article in this months on Bilateral cateract surgery, and the post op nursing, might be of interest to you. Page 27

Ive nursed several cataract patients,its one of the most common opth ops we do at my practice! they seem to respond very well. they end up going home with about 3 lots of drops (cant remember which ones) and a lizzie collar.Back to their normal selves quickly and the owners report improvment by the 3 month check up. Its not as scary as it seems!

Good luck with her, i hope it goes well

Nikki xx

Re: Care after cataract surgery

Katie Mansfield — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 20:32:58 GMT

Hi Bex,

Welcome and thank you for introducing yourself!!!!! My bro and sister-in-law live in High Peak - small world!!

Sorry to hear about your little Teabag (great name for a dog, btw). I have no experience of cataract surgery, I'm afraid, so I can do is wish you all well for tomorrow Let us know how you get on.

K x