Trans-corneal reduction of anterior lens luxation in dogs with lens instability: A retrospective study of 19 dogs (2010-2013)

Objective: To evaluate the success rate and outcome of trans-corneal reduction of anterior lens luxation (TR-ALL) in dogs with lens instability. Animals Studied: Nineteen dogs with anterior lens luxation. Procedures: Medical records of dogs with anterior lens luxation (ALL) were reviewed: dogs were included if TR-ALL was performed followed by medical therapy in the form of topical 0.005% latanoprost ophthalmic solution. The duration of ALL, vision status, ophthalmic examination abnormalities, reason for performing TR-ALL and details of TR-ALL were recorded. Success rate for TR-ALL as well as postprocedure complications were also assessed. Results: Twenty eyes from 19 dogs met the inclusion criteria. Median age was 6.5 years (0.3-15 years) and 47% were terriers (9/19). Successful TR-ALL was achieved in 85% of eyes (17/20); failure was attributed to posterior synechia or vitreous expansion. Short-term complications included corneal ulceration (2/20) and anterior uveitis (3/20); recurrence of anterior luxation occurred in only one dog. Median follow-up for visual eyes (11) following successful TR-ALL was 353 days (range of 1 to 1182 days). Vision was retained in 54.5% (6/11) of eyes with a median time to vision loss of 12 months as a result of glaucoma or presumed retinal detachment. Conclusions: Trans-corneal reduction of ALL provides a non-surgical alternative to intracapsular lens extraction (visual eyes) or enucleation (nonvisual eyes) in dogs. Long-term visual outcome of TR-ALL is comparable to intracapsular lens extraction for ALL.