Luxatio lentis in dogs: a case report

Abstract

The material of the present study was composed of 30 eyes with luxatio lentis occurring in 20 dogs. Unilateral lens luxation was determined in a half of the animals while bilateral luxation was determined in the other half. Lenses in 19 of the 30 eyes were luxated in the anterior direction (63.3%), three were luxated in the posterior direction (10%) and eight were subluxated (26.6%). The distribution of patient dogs based on the breeds showed that the incidence of lens luxation was higher in Terrier, Cocker Spaniel and crossbreed dogs compared to the other breeds. The results of etiological classification of the diseases which are generally seen in older dogs (on average 7.2 years old) were as follows: congenital in two patients, primary luxation in four patients, and secondary luxation in 14 patients. Secondary luxations diagnosed in 14 animals were determined to have developed as a result of trauma in two dogs, glaucoma in one dog, uveitis in one dog, and senile degeneration and/or cataract in 10 dogs. Bilateral (two dogs) and unilateral (five dogs) intracapsullar lens extraction (ICLE) was applied to these animals. The primary disease was to be kept under control by treating those with secondary lens luxation for uveitis or glaucoma. A severe progressive intraocular inflammation developed in one patient. Enucleation was conducted on this patient due to buphthalmus developing in a short time. These results may be helpful to small animal veterinarians dealing with this disease which results in blindness unless early diagnosis and surgical treatment are conducted.