Retrospective study of postoperative intraocular pressure and complications in phacoemulsification combined with endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation and phacoemulsification alone in dogs

BACKGROUND: Long-term comparative data of phacoemulsification combined with endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation (phaco-ECP) versus phacoemulsification (phaco) alone in dogs are rare. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of ECP on postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) and complications after phaco in dogs with normal IOP. METHODS: Medical records of IOP, conjunctival hyperemia, corneal edema, aqueous flare, posterior synechia, intraocular fibrin, and posterior capsule opacification (PCO) formation in 15 canine eyes that underwent phaco-ECP and 36 eyes that underwent phaco alone were evaluated retrospectively. ECP was applied when either the iridocorneal angle or the ciliary cleft was narrow or closed. RESULTS: The IOP of the phaco-ECP group persisted within the normal range postoperatively. The phaco-ECP group had a shorter period of dorzolamide use than did the phaco group. PCO was formed earlier in the phaco-ECP group than in the phaco group. The phaco-ECP group showed more severe corneal edema than the phaco group at every follow-up visit. Posterior synechia was more severe in the phaco-ECP group than in the phaco group from two weeks until the last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Although ECP might cause more postoperative complications such as corneal edema and posterior synechia, it could effectively reduce the incidence of IOP increase after phaco in dogs with a high risk of postoperative glaucoma.