Stella, a little Chihuahua, with cataracts.
Stella, a little Chihuahua, came to us because she developed cataracts. She had been slowly losing vision over several months and had started running into things at home. She also could not go up and down stairs or find her treats or toys. After Stella’s eye exam and testing, she had a retinal test done on her eyes to make sure they were healthy. She passed these tests and came back for her cataract surgery.
Stella getting ready for cataract surgery.
Before surgery, Stella got an IV catheter for her fluids and medications. Stella also received several rounds of eye drops to prepare her eyes for surgery. She enjoyed ultimate comfort with blankets and soft bedding. Here, our caring team of professionals were preparing Stella for her cataract surgery.
Dr. Davis prepping Stella for her cataract surgery.
After anesthesia was started, Stella was transferred to the operating room and positioned under the operating microscope for her surgery. Dr. Davis draped Stella’s eyes and set up the surgery table.
Dr. Davis removing Stella’s cataracts
Lindsey monitored Stella’s anesthesia during the whole surgery and obtained Stella’s parameters including her heart rate, oxygen levels, breathing, blood pressure, EKG and temperature. Warm air blankets were used to keep her comfortable during surgery and recovery.
This is a photo of Stella’s eye with her new lens.
Dr. Davis removed Stella’s cataracts through a tiny incision on the side of the eye. After the cataract was removed, she placed a new, artificial lens in Stella’s eye. She placed the new lens through the small side incision. This provided Stella with perfect vision after surgery.
Stella is a happy pup after cataract removal.
After surgery, Stella recovered on memory foam pads while wrapped in blankets to keep her warm and secure. Once she was awake, Stella could see again and went home a few hours later.
Stella came back to our office for a follow-up visit after her surgery. She is back to playing with her toys and running up and down stairs. She loves being able to see again! The best part of our job is helping pets see again! We are so happy for Stella!
To learn more about cataracts in animals, click here.
To learn more about animal eye surgery, click here.
Watch Dr. Rachel Davis inserting an artificial lens into one of her cataract patients.
