04/24/2025
Opal is a 5 month old, female, spayed, white German shepherd dog who presented for evaluation by Dr. Penelope Buechner with Westford ophthalmology department. Opal was recently adopted and brought into a new home with multiple cats. She was scratched in the right eye by a cat in the home, which is not an uncommon emergency that occurs due to the curiosity of puppies.
Evaluation of the right eye revealed a full thickness corneal laceration, lens capsule laceration, early cataract (opacity of the lens) formation and significant inflammation (uveitis), with some bleeding inside the eye. Opal was started on oral and topical medications to treat pain, inflammation, and infection. At her recheck examination in 1 week, her ocular inflammation was improving, her corneal laceration healed with some scarring, although her cataract was progressing. In addition, it was noted that her left eye had evidence of a juvenile congenital cataract that was likely to progress.
The trauma to the lens and leaking of lens proteins inside the right eye causes overwhelming inflammation and makes her at a high risk of secondary glaucoma (high pressure) which is painful and blinding. Phacoemulsification (cataract) surgery was advised to remove the lens material, to help preserve vision and prevent painful and blinding glaucoma associated with her cat-claw injury. As Opal had cataract formation in her left eye, cataract surgery was performed on this eye as well.
Opal is recovering well from surgery and is visual and comfortable from both eyes! She wanted to share her story to caution other curious puppy owners about the dangers of ocular cat-claw injuries associated with new pet introductions. Opal's story has a happy ending, but some eyes need to be removed in situations like these.
