Perth Animal Eye Hospital Surgical Facilities
Eye surgery is very demanding, requiring high magnification to allow complex microsurgical procedures to be performed, and the latest in state of the art surgical technology to allow the best outcomes. Perth Animal Eye Hospital is equipped with the latest in ocular surgery technology, and provides access to high levels of surgical expertise
Operating microscope
The operating microscope is vital to achieving the degree of accuracy required when performing microsurgical procedures. This instrument is the key to successful surgical treatment of many ocular problems. Surgical closure of lid surgeries is greatly enhanced with the use of this instrument, making accurate alignment of lid tissue much more precise, thus leading to much better outcomes. With respect to corneal surgeries, the cornea is only half a millimeter thick so performing any corneal surgery without the benefit of extreme magnification is frought with danger ad can lead to perforation of the eye. Intraocular surgery (e.g. removal of cataracts, glaucoma surgery, or treatment of iris masses) is impossible without the aid of a surgical microscope.
Phacoemulsification Unit
Phacoemulsification is the removal of cataracts using ultrasound energy to break up the lens and then aspirate it from the eye. This technique allows much smaller incisions which has increased the success rate of cataract surgeries enormously. The unit at Perth Animal Eye Hospital is a state of the art AMO Signature machine using the latest in phacoemulsification technology.
Laser surgery
The laser is used for the treatment of glaucoma by trans-scleral cyclophotocoagulation. It can also be used for the treatment of some intra ocular and extra ocular tumours, and can be used for the treatment of some cases of retinal detachment. Perth Animal Eye Hospital is also one of only two animal eye referral practices in Australia to have an endolaser facility. This uses advanced laser technology to introduce a laser beam via endoscopy from inside the eye leading to less inflammation and better outcomes for the treatment of glaucoma.
Cryosurgery
Cryosurgery uses extreme cold temperatures to treat certain eye conditions. At Perth Animal Eye Hospital liquid nitrogen is used to perform cryosurgery, allowing for the treatment of some ocular tumours and inflammatory lesions. It is also useful for the treatment of some cases where extra lashes rub on the eye (distichiasis).
Microsurgical instrumentation
The sutures used in eye surgery can be much finer than human hair. Handling such fine materials requires special instrumentation, allowing for accurate and gentle manipulation of eye tissues and the placement of fine sutures.
Diathermy
Diathermy is the use of heat and current to cut and coagulate tissues. This can be useful to control bleeding and to treat some lid lesions.