Sometimes following accident or disease it is necessary to remove one or in rare cases both eyes in our pets.

Losing even a single eye is something which most owners find difficult to come to terms with. This is only natural and comes in part from transposing the feelings we would have in the same circumstances on to our pets. Our pets are lucky in that they are not at all concerned about how they look. Their needs are simpler than our own and paramount amongst these are the freedom from pain and discomfort. The removal of a blind, painful eye allows us to meet these needs.

Dogs and cats cope extremely well after the loss of single eye, owners are often hard pressed to identify any situations that their pets are no longer happy in. Although owners sometimes balk at the removal of both eyes, those pets who we have seen through this surgery have, without exception, all lived a happy and near normal life. Remember that both cats and dogs have a much better developed sense of hearing, smell and touch which allows them to continue to 'see' the world in a way that visually impaired humans would love to be able to.

The operation is potentially complex but in the hands of an experienced surgeon is usually problem free. The operation involves a general anaesthetic and the removal of the globe and the edges of the eye lids. The edges of the eye lids are then sutured together. The eyebrow whiskers in cats are usually left in place as these play a vital role in getting around. The muscles of the eyelid are largely intact and many dogs and cats can still raise their eyebrows and wink at us when the mood takes them !

Below are some pictures of Teefa who lost her eye due to Glaucoma. There is a depression present when the eye is viewed from certain angles. This effect is much less marked in breeds with longer hair as the socket will often be filled with a whorl of hair.