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Treatment

If surgery is recommended by your veterinarian, do not delay. Cataract is a progressive disorder that, if not treated quickly, may lead to blindness in one or both of your dog's eyes. This is especially the case with diabetes mellitus-related cataracts, because they progress very rapidly in dogs. Surgery, however, is often not recommended for dogs with non-hereditary forms of cataract.

One modern cataract surgical technique, phacoemulsification, involves the emulsification of the eye's lens with an ultrasonic handpiece. Once the lens is emulsified and aspirated, aspired fluids are replaced with a balanced salt solution. Also, to prevent extreme farsightedness, an intraocular lens may be implanted during surgery. Phacoemulsification has shown more than a 90 percent success rate in dogs.

Living and Management

The rate of progression of this disease depends on the underlying cause of the cataract, the location of cataract, and the age of the animal. If your dog has undergone surgery to treat the cataract, it may require some time to recover in the hospital. Once home, your veterinarian will provide you with ophthalmic preparations to be used in the eyes of your dog for up to several weeks.