COMPARISON OF POSTOPERATIVE PHACOEMULSIFICATION RESULTS IN DOGS WITH AND WITHOUT DIABETES-MELLITUS - 153 CASES (1991-1992)

Data were collected from the medical records of 123 nondiabetic dogs ( 182 eyes) and 30 diabetic dogs (57 eyes) in which phacoemulsification surgery was performed. Pre- and postoperative comparisons, including s ignalment, initial ophthalmic examination findings, surgical variables , and postoperative findings for the short-term follow-up period (mean , 5.75 weeks), between nondiabetic and diabetic dogs revealed that the complication rate was not greater in the diabetic group. Postoperativ e uveitis was evident with nearly equal frequency (in nondiabetic dogs , 90% or 164 of 182 eyes and in diabetic dogs, 88% or 50 of 57 eyes). In nondiabetic dogs, 1% prednisolone ophthalmic solution and prednison e were administered pre- and postoperatively, and amoxicillin and dich lorphenamide postoperatively. In diabetic dogs, the same treatment reg imen, except for treatment with flunixin meglumine Iv al surgery and s ubstitution of aspirin for prednisone, was wed. When nondiabetic and d iabetic dogs were treated according to their respective pre- and posto perative medical regimens, clinical differences in postoperative findi ngs were not apparent.