Lens luxation anyone?

[Umbongo]

I have a 12.5 year old border collie. Always had dodgy eyes (floating cysts) but has only started to loose his sight this year. He seemed to go blind very quickly. Unfortunately I don't live at home and only get to see him every 6 weeks (ish). Early this year he seemed fine, just had trouble finding his tennis ball etc. Roll on to August/September....can barely see a thing, bumps into walls, falls down curbs etc.

Took him to 1 vet who was't too sure, wanted him referred to an ophthalmologist.
Went for a second opinion...who diagnosed lens luxation, cataracts and very mild glaucoma. He said the lens has become detached and "dropped". If the lens falls backwards....not too bad and the glaucoma could be managed with eye drops (although surgery preferable). If the lens falls forward....emergency lens removal/eye removal required. The detachment of the lens can block drainage in the eye hence the glaucoma.

I have gone away with some eye drops to reduce the glaucoma for the while. Lens removal may give him a decent level of sight back, but could potentially also not. The after care is quite intensive. He would need to be referred to a specialist practice and vet for the surgery. Vet had no idea on cost but a rough guess at 1.5k per eye. Let alone the aftercare.

Now he is 12.5 years old, but he is in relatively good shape. He is not insured and I am not sure my dad would cope with the level of care he would require whilst healing. Has anyone had this surgery done? And would you operate on an older dog?

The blindness isn't so much of an issue, it is upsetting but he is coping. It's the pressure in the eye and the possible risk of the lens falling forward and causing a huge amount of pain that I am worried about!

He is my life and it is so upsetting seeing him like this, his favourite thing in the world is to chase a ball or stick. But on the other hand, something has to get him at the end of the day....and I just want him to be comfortable

 

[Lynsey&Smartie]

My JRT has lens luxation when she was about 4 years old. She was in very obvious pain one morning and the vets referred me straight to a specialist who we drove to immediately. The specialist said that the lens had luxated and fallen forwards as you mention above and the pressure in her eye was massive she was unsure if she could save her sight but it was either that or remove the eye so she tried the lens removal operation which was a success. Afterwards we had to keep her quiet and on very restricted exercise for a number of weeks and there were lots of follow up check ups.

We were told that the second eye would go the same way as the first so had the second lens removed also before it became an emergency after she had recovered from the first operation. Cost wise we were insured but the cost was about 3,000 per eye from memory.

She is now 11 and her sight is not brilliant as she can't focus properly without the lens but she manages well.

I'm not sure I would operate on an older dog unless it was an emergency. I seem to remember they can give you some drops to stop the pupil dilating so that the lens can't pass through to the front of the eye. In your situation I might try these instead of the op.

 

[Umbongo]

Thanks for your input. I think we have decided not to operate. I have been given trusopt drops which I was told will help relieve the pressure in his eyes, not sure if these also prevent pupil dilation, will check with the vet tomorrow.