Removal of the Eyeball (Enucleation)
What procedure is enucleation?
Enucleation refers to the surgical removal of the eyeball.
Why does my dog's/cat's eye need to be removed?
Removal of the eyeball is recommended when the eye is blind and painful, and this cannot be managed with either medical therapy or any other surgical procedure.
The most common causes are:
- Glaucoma (increased eye pressure)
- Tumor (in or around the eye)
- Injuries that cannot be surgically repaired
- Infections or inflammations that cannot be cured
If the eyeball is only blind but not painful, removal is not necessarily required.
How is enucleation performed?
The surgery is performed under general anesthesia:
- The area around the eyeball is clipped and disinfected.
- The eyeball is removed.
- The surgical wound is closed by suturing the upper and lower eyelids together.
- Absorbable suture material is often used, so suture removal is not necessary.
The surgery is performed on an outpatient basis, so the animal can go home the same day. In certain cases (e.g., older animals or afternoon surgeries), overnight observation is recommended.
What aftercare is needed?
- Most patients are pain-free within 5-7 days after surgery.
- The animal receives pain medication on the day of surgery, which must be continued at home in tablet or liquid form for one week.
- If the animal scratches the area, it must wear a protective (Elizabethan) collar.
- Slight reddish wound discharge is normal for 2-3 days after surgery, and may also drain from the nose.
- Suture removal (if needed) takes place 10 days after surgery.
Will the animal feel pain after the surgery?
Since enucleation is usually performed because of a painful condition, significant improvement is typically seen within 24 hours after surgery. The animal receives pain relief before, during, and after surgery, which the owner must continue to administer for a few more days.
What will my dog/cat look like after the surgery?
Immediately after surgery:
- The surgical wound may be swollen, but this subsides within a few days.
- The fur will grow back over the area within a few weeks.
- Little tissue (muscle and fat) remains in the eye socket, so the area may appear slightly sunken, though this is barely noticeable in long-haired breeds.
What happens to the removed eye?
The removed eyeball is often sent for histopathological examination, which can help identify the underlying disease and may be important for protecting the health of the other eye.
Is there another solution?
In certain cases, an intrascleral prosthesis can be implanted.
What is an intrascleral prosthesis?
- This is a silicone implant placed inside the remnants of the eyeball (cornea and sclera).
- It is purely a cosmetic solution and offers no particular benefit to the animal.
- Over time, the prosthesis shrinks and discolors, so it will not look exactly like a normal eye.
- Eye drop treatment is required for a few weeks after surgery.
- In certain cases, complications may occur that require ongoing treatment or even complete removal of the eye.
When can a prosthesis not be implanted?
- In cases of eyeball tumor
- In cases of internal eye inflammation
- In cats, post-surgical complications are more common, so it is less recommended for them.
