Editorial Type:
Article Category: Case Report
 | 
Online Publication Date: 03 Jul 2021

Phacoemulsification for Cataract Management in Two Snakes

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Page Range: 189 – 196
DOI: 10.5818/JHMS-S-20-00002
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Abstract

A 10-yr-old male, zoo-housed eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi) and an 8-yr-old female, zoo-housed eastern hognose snake (Heterodon platyrhinos) both presented with bilateral cataracts and behavioral changes related to decreased vision. Phacoemulsification was performed on both snakes. The eastern indigo snake underwent stepwise phacoemulsification in both eyes and developed uveitis postoperatively, which resolved with medical management. Ultimately, this procedure was thought to result in an improved quality of life for the snake. In the eastern hognose snake, a large spectaculectomy was required for the procedure due to the small size of the globe and previous scarring of the spectacle. This led to a significantly prolonged healing time. As a result, surgery on the other eye was not performed. These cases illustrate the feasibility of performing phacoemulsification for the management of sight-limiting cataracts in snakes and provide a description of some of the complications that clinicians may encounter and the methods used to manage these challenges.

Keywords: cataracts; Drymarchon couperi ; eastern hognose snake; eastern indigo snake; Heterodon platyrhinos ; phacoemulsification
Figure 1.
Figure 1.

Two weeks after phacoemulsification of the left eye in an eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi). Cellular debris is visible in the ventral aspect of the anterior chamber.

Figure 2.
Figure 2.

One month after phacoemulsification of the left eye in an eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi). There is white cellular debris present in a U shape behind the spectacle. The globe indented slightly on retropulsion at this stage, suggesting decreased intraocular pressure secondary to uveitis.

Figure 3.
Figure 3.

Five weeks after phacoemulsification of the left eye in an eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi). Previously noted uveitis had resolved, although the dorsal spectacle remained cloudy.

Figure 4.
Figure 4.

Six months after phacoemulsification of the right eye in an eastern indigo snake (Drymarchon couperi). The pupil of the right eye was noted to be fixed and dilated, and there was a green discoloration of the ventral area of the anterior chamber thought to be biliverdin from resolving hyphema.

Figure 5.
Figure 5.

One month after phacoemulsification of the left eye in an eastern hognose snake (Heterodon platyrhinos). A proteinaceous plug (yellow arrow) over the dorsal and lateral spectaculectomy site is present.

Figure 6.
Figure 6.

Seven months after spectaculectomy and phacoemulsification of the left eye in an eastern hognose snake (Heterodon platyrhinos). Scarring of spectacle was present after the spectaculectomy site had healed. The dorsal two-thirds of the globe also developed a concave appearance, and there was red discoloration in the ventral anterior chamber thought to be scar tissue.

Contributor Notes

2 Current address: Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA

6 Current address: Minnesota Zoo, 13000 Zoo Boulevard, Apple Valley, MN 55124, USA

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