Cataracts

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Originally posted by mruffruff
My RB dog, Bear, had cataracts from being diabetic. I waited too long to see a veterinary opthamologist so he couldn't have them removed.


Mary

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I work for an ophthalmologist (human one :) ) and have never heard of that. Cataracts and diabetic retinopathy are two different things. If we all live long enough we will all develop cataracts. Cataract surgery is pretty straight forward and my boss does many surgeries each week. Years ago I had two toy poodles who lived well into their teens. For all practical purposes one of them could have been declared legally blind. He did well around the house because he knew it well. We didn't rearrange furniture, etc.

Regarding diabetes, a patient with diabetic retinopathy is most often referred on to a retinal specialist. Diabetic retinopathy manifests itself in different ways but usually there is bleeding within the eye caused by the rupture of little vessels in the eye due to the disease.

It may be that the diabetic retinopathy was so severe that it contraindicated the cataract surgery which, in itself, is fairly simple.