Unique equine cataract surgery offered on routine basisFebruary 15, 2006The University of Liverpool is offering a new form of equine cataract removal surgery on a routine basis, which could save the sight of thousands of horses. Professor Derek Knottenbelt from the University's Division of Equine Studies and Professor David Wong from the Ophthalmology Research Unit, have developed a unique approach to cataract removal operations combining techniques used on humans and animals. The new surgery is proving consistently successful in restoring complete sight to patients without post-operative symptoms. Based at the University's Large Animal Hospital at Leahurst, Professor Knottenbelt and his team are now offering the surgery on a routine basis to horses suffering from cataracts. The team spent several months testing out various surgical techniques used both on humans and animals to establish the best combination of methods to remove horse cataracts.
Georgie is a 15-month-old filly, with cataracts in both eyes. The team is currently preparing to operate on Georgie's second eye - the first operation was completed without problems. Completely blind from birth, she will undergo further surgery at the University's Large Animal Hospital. Georgie is owned by the International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH). Cataracts develop because of hereditary, congenital and ageing factors and as a consequence of injury or ophthalmic disease. The latter causes are largely unsuitable for the treatment because previously attempted procedures carried a high complication rate. To achieve the best results, the surgeons borrowed several techniques regularly used in human cataract removal. The team adapted a human phacoemulsification machine for equine use, which breaks up a cataract through ultrasound. They combined this with a technique commonly used in remote Indian Eye Camps to dislodge the cataract via the anterior eye chamber using a jet of saline. The teams remove the lens using an ultrasound probe and administered an injection of intravitreal steroids to control postoperative inflammation of the eye. Professor Knottenbelt said: "This new surgery shows how effectively the latest human cataract surgical techniques can translate successfully to bear on an equine problem. We are pleased that the University can now offer such progressive treatment to tackle equine cataracts on a larger scale than currently available." The surgery has successfully been carried out on several horses at the University, including TC, a nine-year old Gelding warmblood, who had developed cataracts in both eyes. TC's owner, Melina Jones, noticed a problem when TC began walking into objects and developed facial injuries. After consulting her vet, TC was referred to Leahurst where Professor Knottenbelt and Dr Wong carried out two operations to remove the cataracts. Melina said: "I'm absolutely delighted with the outcome of TC's surgery. Surgery is quite rarely performed in the UK on horses with cataracts as it carries risks but if I had not agreed to this pioneering operation the only other course of action would have been to have my horse put down. "As a showjumping horse, it was vital to have TC's eyesight restored. Without experts such as Professor Knottenbelt, who are willing to push the boundaries of veterinary surgery and try these new techniques, my horse would not be here today.\\\ University of Liverpool Science News and Science Current Events Tag Cloud This tag cloud is a visual representation of term frequencies of random science news topics with common terms grouped together and emphasized by their display size. Pulmonary Hypertension Ageing Blood Clotting Inflammatory Disease Circadian Clock Anesthetics Facial Expressions Weight Loss Clinical Trials X-ray Pregnancy Cerebral Palsy Substance Abuse Heart Attack Cosmic Dust Sea Ice Computer Model Silicon Blood Clots Sexual Selection Oral Cancer Serotonin Ice Sheet Contraception Warfarin
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Related Cataract Surgery Current Events and Cataract Surgery News Articles Drug for urination difficulties linked with complications after cataract surgery Use of the medication tamsulosin to treat male urination difficulties within two weeks of cataract surgery is associated with an increased risk of serious postoperative ophthalmic adverse events such as retinal detachment or lost lens. Corneal transplant technique shows promise in children For infants and children with blinding diseases of the cornea, a sophisticated new corneal transplantation technique offers the hope of improving vision while overcoming the technical difficulty and low success rate of traditional penetrating keratoplasty (PK) in children, according to reports in the current issue of the Journal of AAPOS (American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus). Self-moisturizing contact lenses, naturally Even contact lenses are joining the trend to go green. Physics provides new insights on cataract formation Using the tools and techniques of soft condensed matter physics, a research team in Switzerland has demonstrated that a finely tuned balance of attractions between proteins keeps the lens of the eye transparent, and that even a small change in this balance can cause proteins to aggregate and de-mix. Eye diseases gave great painters different vision of their work, Stanford ophthalmologist says Michael Marmor, MD, wanted to know what it was like to see through the eyes of an artist. Literally. Cataract scheme 'expensive over-reaction' say doctors The independent sector treatment centre (ISTC) scheme for NHS cataract services was an expensive over-reaction to the need to increase rates of cataract surgery, say senior doctors in this week's BMJ. Artificial cornea offers better results for infants, some blind patients Infants and adults who are blind due to a cloudy or damaged cornea are seeing some remarkable results thanks to a new version of an artificial implant that takes the place of the cornea, the clear covering of the eye that serves as our window on the world. New wireless networking system brings eye care to thousands in India Thousands of residents of rural villages in India are receiving quality eye care thanks to a collaborative effort between an Indian hospital network and the researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, and at Intel Corporation who have developed a new technology for low-cost rural connectivity. Informed Consent Does Not Seem to Influence Decision-Making Process For Cataract Surgery Informing patients of the risks of cataract surgery as part of the informed consent procedure one day before surgery does not seem to influence patients' decisions to have the procedure, according to an article in the January issue of The Archives of Ophthalmology, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. Cataract surgery is the most frequently performed eye surgery and is the cause for one third of all lawsuits against ophthalmologists, according to the article. Cataracts occur when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy and opaque, which can compromise vision. During cataract surgery, the clouded lens is removed, and an artificial lens is placed. Informed consent is a process by which the patient is Gorilla regains sight in ground-breaking operation by Bristol Zoo Gardens Romina, a female Western lowland gorilla at Bristol Zoo Gardens, has successfully undergone pioneering surgery to restore her sight in the first ever cataract operation performed in Europe on an adult gorilla. Born with cataracts, 21-year-old Romina underwent the two-hour procedure at the University of Bristol`s Veterinary Hospital in March and, for the first time in her life, she can now see the world around her clearly. Romina was born at Rome Zoo and hand-reared. Before her arrival in the UK in November 2001, Bristol Zoo Gardens were notified of concerns about her eyesight. Health checks carried out by Head of Veterinary Services at Bristol Zoo Gardens, Sharon Redrobe, revealed that she h More Cataract Surgery Current Events and Cataract Surgery News Articles |
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