Cataract Surgery Cost: A Dog’s World

The cost of cataract surgery today is an incredible bargain given how the safety, effectiveness and predictability of removing a Cataract can positively impact one’s quality of life-AND NOT JUST HUMANS! Cataracts are the most common cause of treatable blindness in dogs and can have a debilitating impact on how they function and get around. In fact, the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmology (ACVO) shares a great deal of information about Cataract Surgery for dogs. In humans, Cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss among people over 55 years of age and Cataract Surgery with an Intraocular Lens Implant (IOL) is one of the most frequent types of operations performed.

“Just as I advise my patients that when their quality of life is diminished by Cataracts it is time for us to discuss having Cataract Surgery, when I can sense that the quality of life for Buck and Scout becomes diminished I know it will be time for them to have Cataract Surgery with a Veterinary Ophthalmologist,” stated Fairfield County Connecticut Cataract Surgeon Leslie Doctor, M.D. of Doctor & Associates.

Cataract eye surgery for dogs and people are performed with the same types of microscopic instrumentation and procedures. Cataract Surgery for dogs as well as Cataract Surgery for people both utilize the same advanced eye surgery technique called “phacoemulsification” with ultrasound to “chop” up the cloudy material of the crystalline lens-and both dog Cataract Surgery and human Cataract Surgery typically include the implantation of a permanent intraocular lens implant (IOL) to correct vision.

“It is interesting how similar the actual eye surgery techniques and procedures are for cataract surgery on dogs and humans,” remarked Fall River Massachusetts Cataract Surgeon Greg Hofeldt, M.D. of Center for Sight. “One of the differences is that when I perform cataract surgery I can typically use eye drops for anesthesia rather than any type of needles or injections and this helps human patients have a quick and comfortable recovery from cataract surgery.”

“Our Pokey is worth every dollar to make sure she has the best Veterinary Ophthalmologist when she needs cataract surgery-after all she is a real part of our family,” quipped Dr. Hofeldt.