Retrospective investigation of perioperative risk factors for immediate postoperative corneal erosions in dogs undergoing phacoemulsification

Abstract

Objective: To characterize the incidence, contributing risk factors, and healing characteristics of immediate postoperative corneal erosions (IPCE) in dogs undergoing routine phacoemulsification. Animals Studied: Medical records of 313 canine eyes (159 dogs) undergoing routine phacoemulsification surgery. Procedures: Medical records of dogs undergoing planned cataract surgery at UW Veterinary Care were retrospectively reviewed. Patient-related variables including age, skull conformation, diabetes status, and cataract stage at the time of surgery were recorded. Intraoperative variables per eye were also recorded including surgical technique, surgeon expertise level, average phacoemulsification power, and phacoemulsification time. Diagnosis of IPCE ≤ 24 h after completion of surgery and time to IPCE healing were recorded where follow-up data were available. Results: Immediate postoperative corneal erosions were observed in 48/313 (15.3%) operated eyes. The presence of diabetes mellitus or brachycephalic skull conformation, preoperative Schirmer tear test (STT) value, surgical technique and surgeon experience level, phacoemulsification time, and absolute phacoemulsification time were not statistically significant risk factors for IPCE. Average phacoemulsification power was associated with IPCE (RR 1.52, p = .001). Time to IPCE healing was similar in diabetic and non-diabetic dogs (median [IQR] 8 [6-11] days and 8 [6-15] days, respectively). Diabetes mellitus, brachycephaly, and phacoemulsification parameters were not associated with IPCE healing at 7 or 14 days postoperatively. Conclusions: Higher average phacoemulsification power may be associated with the development of IPCE in canine eyes. The presence of diabetes mellitus or brachycephaly are not risk factors for the development of IPCE, nor are they factors that influence IPCE healing.