If you've just found out your cat needs eye removal surgery, you may be feeling many emotions and probably have many questions. In today's article, our Astoria vets explain how this procedure is done and discuss recovery time, potential complications, and more.
Enucleation in Cats
You may be shocked, alarmed, sad, and of course, concerned for your cat's health if your vet has just told you that your feline friend will need to have their eye removed.
The procedure to surgically remove a cat's eye is referred to as enucleation. While this procedure is relatively safe when performed by a trained professional, your veterinarian will explore many alternative treatment options, including potentially referring you to a veterinary ophthalmologist for further diagnostics and treatment, before recommending enucleation.
A veterinarian or veterinary ophthalmologist may recommend this permanent and irreversible solution if:
- Your cat's eye pain is unmanageable with medication or other surgical options
- Your cat's eye is badly or irreparably damaged
- Your cat has an untreatable eye condition or tumor
There are two types of enucleation surgery: transconjunctival and transpalpebral. The transconjunctival approach to eye removal reduces orbital tissue loss and the risk of subsequent orbital sinking that may result. There is less risk of hemorrhaging and the procedure time is typically faster.
A veterinarian may opt for the transpalpebral approach if the eye is damaged beyond repair. During this procedure, the entire eye globe, including the elements of the conjunctival sac (conjunctiva, nictitating membrane, and eyelids) is removed.
Sometimes, the inner contents of the eye may be replaced with a prosthesis, which creates a more natural-looking eye. However, this is not appropriate in cases in which tumors or infections have caused extensive damage.
Your Cat's Eye Removal Surgery: Procedure & Cost
During pre-surgical preparation, your cat's vital signs will be taken before pre-anesthetic drugs are administered. Hospital staff will then use general anesthesia to sedate your cat, and shave the fur around the affected eye. The upper eyelashes will be trimmed with fine scissors before tape is used to remove fine hair from the skin.
The surgery will be completed depending on the surgical approach you and your veterinary team have chosen based on your cat's eye condition and needs. The eyeball and eyelids will be carefully removed and the wound stitched.
The veterinarian performing the surgery will close the wounds with stitches. Some stitches are made of absorbable, invisible material and will not have to removed because they gradually dissolve. More often, stitches are non-absorbably and are visible on the skin's surface. Your vet can discuss which kind of stitches were used and provide instructions on when to return to have them removed.
Once the surgery is complete, your cat's empty eye socket will be covered by skin. The eye may remain swollen for a week or so, but the scar should hardly be visible once the fur has grown back.
The cost of your cat's enucleation surgery will depend on many factors, including their individual pre-operative and post-operative care needs. Ask your vet for a specific, detailed cost estimate of your cat's procedure.
Cat Eye Enucleation: Potential Complications
If infection develops, the eye area will stay swollen for an extended period of time (longer than the week or so it would normally take to heal), and you may notice pus draining from the incision. In this case, your vet will need to drain the infection and administer antibiotics.
If you notice these symptoms and suspect your cat may have a post-surgical infection, check in with your vet right away.
When a cat's eyes are removed due to severe damage, a vet will sometimes have difficulty removing the eye in one piece. A small fragment of the rear eye membranes may remain. If enough of this tissue is left, fluid secretion may continue to ooze from the incision. If this is excessive, a second surgery may be required to completely clean the cat's eye socket.
Your Cat's Recovery After Eye Removal Surgery
This procedure is a permanent solution for eye conditions that have not or will not respond to treatment. Completely removing an eye that's been damaged by injury, infection, or cancer will ideally eliminate the issue and prevent the condition from spreading.
Generally, most cats return to their usual routines within about five days after surgery. Below, you'll find more details about what you can expect and some actions to take to ensure your cat's recovery from surgery goes as smoothly as possible:
Bruising - There may be some mild bruising and swelling soon after your cat's surgery. It's normal for this to worsen in the first 24 hours, then ease gradually over the first week of recovery.
Weeping - You may see a small amount of blood-stained fluid come from your cat's wound or, occasionally, from the nose. This is because the tear ducts are connected to the inner nostrils. Contact your vet for further instruction and care if there are more than a few drips.
Blood dripping from the nose should diminish about two to four days after the operation.
Pain - Your cat is likely to feel a small amount of pain and discomfort post-surgery. Most of this can be managed with medication. Once your kitty has return home, make sure to administer all medicines correctly. Contact your vet if your cat still seems to be in severe pain. Once healing is complete, the surgical area should be pain-free and comfortable.
Protect the Wound - You'll need to prevent your cat from pawing at or damaging the surgical site to avoid infection or reopening the wound, especially in the first 3-5 days post-surgery.
Your cat should wear their e-collar (Elizabethan collar, also referred to as a head cone) until the incision has healed and your vet says it can be removed (usually within 10-14 days). Your pet should be able to eat and drink with the collar in place, but if you have concerns, check with your vet about removing the collar at meal times. Make sure your pet is well-supervised if you do remove the e-collar.
If you have other pets in your home, you'll also need to separate them from your cat during your cat's recovery to prevent them from licking its wounds and sutures.
Keep Your Cat Indoors - If your cat normally ventures outside, it's important to keep them indoors as they recover. This decreases the risk of injury or infection. Don't forget to provide a litter box, too.
Administer Medication as Directed - Your vet will prescribe pain medication to be administered while your cat recovers, likely for a week or so after surgery. Make sure to provide this as instructed.
Make Sure Your Cat Gets Lots of Rest & TLC - Arrange a warm, comfortable, quiet place for your cat to rest and recover after the surgery.
Provide Soft Food - If your cat is experiencing pain or a loss of appetite, soft food may help. Try warming their normal food slightly or giving them something with a strong scent, such as tuna.
Return to Your Vet for Stitch Removal - Stitches typically need to be removed within within 7 to 14 days after the operation.
Monitor Health & Whisker Regrowth - After enucleation surgery, whiskers won't typically grow back for six to eight weeks. Since cats use their whiskers to sense their surroundings, they should be monitored and protected during this timeframe as cats without whiskers are prone to becoming imbalanced.
Life After Cat Eye Removal Surgery
Many pet parents wonder, "What happens when a cat loses an eye?". Some worry for their pet's safety and ability to enjoy a good quality of life.
Owning a one-eyed cat will come with its challenges, but shouldn't be particularly different from having a fully sighted cat, as they tend to adapt well. You can help them by:
- Moving any objects that are the same height as your cat's head and may cause harm or injury (since your cat will not be able to see from the side where they've had the eye removed).
- If your cat has a condition that may threaten the remaining eye, take other preventive measures as directed by your vet.
- Speak to them when approaching on their blind side to avoid startling them. Tell guests to do the same and take extra care when bringing small children and other animals around your cat.
Most cats respond well to partial blindness and resume regular activities quickly.
Enucleation Prevention in Cats
Cat eye removal surgery is often recommended for felines with eye conditions with unknown causes. As such, prevention is not always possible. But preventing eye trauma is a good start, and booking a physical exam for your cat with your vet immediately if you detect a problem is important.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.