Long-term outcome of phacoemulsification in raptors-A retrospective study (1999-2014).

OBJECTIVE: To determine long-term outcome of phacoemulsification in raptors at the University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center.

ANIMALS STUDIED: Seven nonreleasable diurnal raptors including, four bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), two red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis), and one peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) that had undergone phacoemulsification. All birds showed behavioral changes attributable to visual deficits prior to surgery.

PROCEDURES: All birds underwent phacoemulsification for cataracts. Four underwent bilateral phacoemulsification, and three had unilateral surgery. Due to a low sample size, statistics were not done.

RESULTS: Six raptors (nine eyes) had long-term follow-up (median 75 months, range 28 to 105 months). Seven of these eyes (78%) were visual at last examination. Of those visual eyes, two developed mild to moderate posterior synechiae, four had mild to moderate capsular opacities, and one developed a lipid keratopathy. The remaining two eyes with long-term follow-up were from the same red-tailed hawk. Both eyes developed fibropupillary membranes that were blinding. One eye was pseudophakic, and the other was aphakic and also developed a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. Another bald eagle was euthanized two months after surgery due to refractory glaucoma; one eye was pseudophakic.

CONCLUSIONS: Phacoemulsification is a viable treatment for captive raptors with cataracts. The most severe complications occurred relatively soon after surgery. Captive raptors appear to adapt well to aphakia.