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 .