Recent surgeries

Standing enucleation

Enucleation is the technical term for removal of an eye; it usually has to happen when an eye becomes damaged, infected or sometimes cancerous so that it is a permanent course of pain for the animal. By its nature, enucleation often marks the end of the road for medical treatment of several eye conditions. Standing enucleation is long established in standing cattle. But traditionally enucleation is usually carried out under general anaesthesia in horses because of their more ‘flighty’ nature and lower resistance to infection compared to cattle. Recent advances in sedative drugs, as well as a vogue to carry out more procedures standing, has meant that standing enucleation has become standard procedure in horses.

This 15 year old Welsh Cob mare suffered a right eye penetration which quickly set up infection within the eye. It was treated very aggressively with antibiotics, both with intramuscular injections and eye drops, but within a week the infection had spread to affect the entire eye ball (‘globe’). Pictured as it arrived, the eye was full of pus and very painful.

The horse was heavily sedated and the eye blocked with local anaesthetic. It’s shown here, just ready for surgery. It was then surgically removed standing, as shown below.

The advantages are multiple: they include less bleeding, hence an easier and quicker procedure. Easier quicker procedures are also cheaper. Also significant, there is no risk or cost of general anaesthesia. Finally, providing the patient isn’t a section A, the surgeon’s back is happier too. Success rates are just as good as traditional GA enucleation. The horse shown made a full recovery and is currently enjoying a pain-free one-eyed retirement.