Cataract Surgery
We have a two-year-old cat. Our veterinarian recently diagnosed him with cat scratch fever. He was treated and made a full recovery. Now he has cataracts in both eyes. What do you think about cataract surgery for our cat?
Cat scratch fever is normally a diagnosis associated with human patients. It is usually associated with a sensitivity to bacteria that is found frequently in cats’ claws or mouths, but can come from other sources. Since your cat made a full recovery, there is no need for further concern.
Cataract surgery can be very successful, but cataract surgery may not restore sight to your cat if there are other underlying problems in the eye. The specialists who do this cataract surgery, veterinary ophthalmologists, are trained just as human ophthalmologists are. The veterinary ophthalmologist will do a test to see if the retina behind the cataract is functional. If it is non-functional, then cataract surgery will not restore your cat’s vision. The surgery involves removal of the cataract which is actually the lens of the eye and replacing it with an implant.
Your veterinarian should be able to refer you to one of these ophthalmologists. They will be able to describe the procedure, the risks, the testing, and the cost involved. We hope your cat has a future with better vision!
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