Retinal Detachment in Small Animals

Retinal detachment is being diagnosed more commonly and is an important cause of vision loss (either unilateral or bilateral) in animals. It is an important postoperative complication of lens surgery. Once retinal detachment is detected, immediate medical or surgical treatment can decrease the resultant retinal degeneration and facilitate restoration of vision (see multifocal retinal detachments image).

Multifocal retinal detachments, cat

Image

Courtesy of UC Davis Comparative Ophthalmology Service.

Contributing factors include breed (eg, Shih Tzu with vitreal syneresis or Collies with Collie eye anomaly), previous cataract or lens removal, trauma (dogs and cats), systemic hypertension (cats and dogs), and systemic mycoses (dogs and cats).

History, complete ophthalmic and systemic examinations, CBC, blood chemistry profile, and other diagnostic tests are important to determine the underlying cause. Important diagnostic tests for retinal detachment include the following:

• ophthalmoscopy

• B-scan ultrasonography

• electroretinography

• blood pressure measurement

Exudative nonrhegmatogenous retinal detachments can resolve with resolution of the inflammatory or hemorrhagic intra- and subretinal exudates. Some retinal degeneration usually occurs, but vision may return. Small holes or breaks, particularly in the ventral retina, can be successfully treated with a barrier retinopexy using diode laser photocoagulation of the surrounding normal retina. Repair of rhegmatogenous retinal detachments, characterized by retinal breaks (holes and tears), may be attempted using vitreoretinal techniques that are routine in humans, including intraocular gases, silicone oil, scleral buckling, and laser or cryoretinopexy.