Safety study of capsular tension ring use in canine phacoemulsification and IOL implantation

Objective To evaluate and compare surgical outcome and complications in canine eyes with stable, cataractous lenses undergoing routine phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation with or without implantation of a capsular tension ring device (CTR). Procedures Dogs undergoing routine bilateral phacoemulsification and IOL implantation had one eye randomly chosen to have a CTR (47 eyes) inserted while the contralateral eye served as a control (47 eyes). The CTR was placed in the capsular bag following phacoemulsification and immediately prior to IOL implantation. All eyes received acrylic foldable IOLs. Patients were evaluated intra- and postoperatively, and complications were compared between eyes with and without a CTR. Results There were no intra-operative complications associated with implantation of the CTR. Postoperatively, the overall incidences of glaucoma (6%), intraocular hemorrhage (4%), and retinal detachment (2%) were equal between control and CTR eyes at the time of last follow-up. There was no significant difference in overall incidence of immediate postoperative uveitis (35% vs. 38%) or fibrin (19% vs. 15%) between control and CTR eyes. Follow-up time ranged from 2 weeks to 21 months. Conclusion In canine eyes with stable cataractous lenses undergoing routine phacoemulsification and IOL implantation placement of a CTR does not increase the risk of intra- or postoperative complications.