Vitrectomy information
Information sheet
& waiver form
Information sheet
& waiver form
Information sheet
& waiver form
Perspective:
My perspective on ERU and its treatment
This procedure involves flushing the vitreous chamber. The aim is to remove harmful inflammatory products and leptospires (spiral-shaped bacteria) from the eye.
At present, the term ERU (Equine Recurrent Uveitis) is used to describe a wide range of different conditions. The operation is effective for painful recurrent internal eye inflammation in horses, which is usually caused by leptospires and is also known as moon blindness and ‘periodic eye inflammation’. In this form, the cause is known, so that, unlike other forms grouped under the term ERU, a cure is possible.
Approach:
Aqueous humour sampling
(Anterior chamber paracentesis)
for the diagnosis of leptospirosis?
If a painful recurrence of internal eye inflammation is known to have occurred and typical clinical signs are present, there is a very high probability that leptospires are present in the eye. In such cases, immediate surgery is recommended to avoid paracentesis. To confirm the diagnosis, a sample is then taken during the operation, whereby the vitreous humour is easily removed at the start of the vitrectomy. In unclear cases, and where a recurrence is not definitively known, a sample can routinely be taken from the eye of a standing horse and tested for leptospires. It takes a few days for the laboratory results to be confirmed.
Day 1
Admission to the clinic, start of preparatory treatment
Day 4
Surgery under general anaesthesia
Day 5 – 9
Aftercare and rest in the clinic
Day 10
Discharge from the clinic, provided that the horse can be kept in a box at its home stable
Day 10 – 14
Aftercare and rest in the box at the home stable or at the clinic –
From day 15 onwards, no further treatment is required.
Hospital stay
& aftercare
You should be admitted to the clinic three days before the operation so that the eye can be prepared for the procedure. On the fourth day, the operation will be carried out under general anaesthesia whilst you are lying on your side in the operating theatre. Afterwards, you should rest in a box for 10 days to minimise any jolts to the eye.
Hospital stay & aftercare:
Return to the home stable
Horses are usually discharged from the clinic five days after the operation, provided that they can be kept in a box for a further five days at their home stable and that twice-daily treatment with eye ointment can be guaranteed.
From the eleventh day after the operation, unrestricted movement and training are possible with regard to the eye. Please note, however, that a sudden return to full activity can be harmful to the musculoskeletal system.
Please also note that the pupil may remain dilated for a further two to three weeks, so a fly mask should be fitted during the day.
