Animal Eye Surgery
The staff at Northwest Animal Eye Specialists is a team comprised of sympathetic and caring pet owners. From surgery to complete anesthesia monitoring, our vets and the dedicated team ensure that your pet receives the best care possible.
During each surgery, a dedicated nurse will administer anesthesia and continuously monitor your pet using electronic patient monitoring equipment. Pain management will also be provided.
Post-operative monitoring and pain management are our priorities following surgery. Your vet will also provide thorough instructions for at-home care.
What to Expect from Animal Eye Surgery
We always keep you fully informed about why we are recommending a surgical procedure and regarding any post-operative care your pet will need at home. We practice stringent surgical protocols at our clinic.
Surgical Procedures
At Northwest Animal Eye Specialists, we perform medical and emergency surgeries to help treat disease and conditions in pets or to repair injuries sustained through trauma.
Our vets routinely perform the following elective and non-elective surgeries:
- Orbital and Eyelid Surgery
We offer a complete spectrum of oculoplastic procedures for the treatment of orbital and eyelid disorders.
If your pet is experiencing skin cancer or growths around the eye, droopy upper or lower eyelids or tear duct problems, speak with your veterinarian to see if orbital or eyelid surgery is right for your pet. Eyelid tumor removal and exenteration of the orbit.
- Cherry Eye Surgery
Cherry eye in dogs, known scientifically as a prolapse of the third eyelid gland, is a treatable condition that occurs most commonly in young dogs.
This involves the surgical replacement of the third eyelid gland. It is important to treat the condition as soon as possible in order to minimize permanent damage to the eye or third eyelid gland.
- Ectropion surgery
Your vet will remove a small part of your lower eyelid at the outer edge. When the lid is stitched back together, the tendons and muscles of the lid will be tightened, causing the lid to rest properly on the eye. This procedure is generally relatively simple.
- Entropion Surgery
Entropion repair is an outpatient procedure that typically only requires local anesthesia and a mild sedative. Depending on the exact needs of the patient, entropion repair may involve the removal of a small section of the eyelid or a skin graft to help reposition the eyelid.
- Treating Your Pet's Cataracts
Like humans, animals can also develop cataracts. The skilled team at Northwest Animal Eye Specialists employs the latest techniques in phacoemulsification and intraocular lens placement for the treatment of your pet's cataracts.
Cataracts occur when protein clumps up and clouds the lens of the eye, which then reduces the light that reaches the retina. If the clouding gets severe enough, blurred vision and even blindness can result.
Phacoemulsification is a procedure where a small incision is made in the side of the cornea. High-frequency ultrasound is used to break up the cloudy lens. After the cloudy lens is removed, a new lens is inserted, allowing the light to pass through and focus correctly on your pet's retina. - Glaucoma Prevention and Treatment
Glaucoma can cause permanent damage to your pet's eyes, quickly leading to blindness. Cyclophotocoagulation is a laser therapy procedure that destroys the tissue that causes increased intraocular pressure. Medical management must be initiated quickly in glaucoma, so timely referral is very important.
- Endolaser Surgery
The endolaser is most commonly used to create a laser barricade around retinal tears, surround retinectomy edges or giant retinal tear margins.
- Eyelash Disorders
We treat a variety of eyelash disorders. In certain cases like distichiasis, ectopic cilia, and other eyelash disorders, laser surgery is the preferred method for removing the affected eyelashes.
- Cornea Surgery
The cornea is a transparent, multi-layered, shiny membrane that makes up the anterior portion of your pet's eyes. A corneal abrasion (or ulcer) is the erosion of these layers. If the erosion is deep, it is considered a corneal ulcer. Corneal disorders give a cloudy appearance to your pet's eyes.
If the injury to your pet's cornea is severe, surgery may be required to remove dead or poorly healing tissue or a corneal graft may be necessary.
The Surgery Process
We understand that the prospect of bringing your pet in for surgery can be frightening. Please be assured that we recommend surgery only when it is in the best interests of your furry companion.
Our board-certified veterinarians will ensure that you fully understand why we are recommending surgery and that you are comfortable making the decision to move ahead.
Surgical protocols at our clinic include:
Pre-surgical assessments. We will confirm the specifics of the procedure, complete a physical examination of the patient, and make sure blood tests have been completed and reviewed by the vet in order to determine if your pet faces any risk of anesthesia-related complications.
Dedicated surgical suites. Surgeries are performed in a dedicated surgical suite. This room is kept completely sterile to prevent infection and cross-contamination.
Surgical attire. Our staff wears disposable caps and masks at all times when they are in the surgical suite. Those involved in the procedure itself will also wear sterile gowns and single-use gloves.
Sterile packs and equipment. We carefully clean, sterilize and wrap our surgical instruments and equipment prior to every surgery.