Lens-related ocular emergencies (LROE) in dogs: treatment and visual outcome after late presentation of 90 eyes

BACKGROUND: Lens-related emergencies need immediate medical intervention to reduce complications, minimize pain, and improve the chances of retaining vision. The present study aimed to demonstrate the common lens-related ocular emergencies in dogs and evaluate the short-term outcomes after the treatment of these cases. Sixty dogs (90 eyes) of different breeds were presented with unilateral (30 eyes, OD = 18, OS = 12) and bilateral (60 eyes) ocular abnormalities related to crystalline lens injury. Clinical, ultrasonographic, and laboratory examinations were achieved. Different treatment protocols were conducted after a complete ophthalmic examination and the associated clinical outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: Mean (± SD) age of dogs at initial evaluation was 3.65 (± 2.4) years (range, 1˗12 years). Lens luxation and subluxation were diagnosed in 45 eyes (25 with anterior lens luxation, 15 with subluxation, and 5 with posterior lens luxation). Lens-induced anterior uveitis without ocular hypertension (n = 25 eyes), lens-induced uveitis with secondary glaucoma (uveitic glaucoma) (n = 15 eyes), and lens capsule disruption (n = 5 eyes) were also diagnosed. The vision was lost in all 5 eyes with posterior lens luxation and secondary glaucoma (100%), 18/25 eyes with anterior lens luxation (72%), and 5/15 eyes with lens subluxation (33.3%). Vision impairment was also identified in 10/25 eyes (40%) with unresponsive lens-induced anterior uveitis and in 5/5 eyes (100%) with traumatic rupture of the anterior lens capsule. CONCLUSION: Crystalline lens pathology can cause a wide variety of ocular emergencies that may result in blindness. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are crucial for handling lens-related emergencies in dogs.