There’s nothing vain about nip and tuck eye surgeries for pets. Here’s why

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Hamilton was experiencing so much discomfort that he chose not to open his eyes. Whenever the 4-year-old English bulldog attempted to do so, his eyelids, which were deformed, would turn inward, leading to his eyelashes rubbing against his cornea.

"Have you ever experienced the intense pain of a scratched cornea? Dr. Dana Varble, the chief veterinary officer of the North American Veterinary Community, shared her thoughts on this excruciating injury."

"These animals experience extreme pain with every blink," Varble explained. "They frequently narrow their eyes to try and see, which can cause the eyelids to fold in further."

Once Hamilton underwent eye surgery, which people might refer to as a minor cosmetic procedure, he could see and engage with his owners without any discomfort.

"These minor surgeries are not just for looks; they are necessary for the animal's well-being," Varble explained. "If the eyelids are turned inwards and the eyelashes are constantly rubbing against the cornea, it can lead to scarring and damage the eyesight, potentially causing blindness."

Certain types of dogs are more prone to having eye problems due to their genetics. This includes breeds like boxers, Boston terriers, French bulldogs, Pekingese, pugs, and shih tzus, which have shorter muzzles and flatter faces.

In Hamilton's situation, his eyesight got worse when he put on weight, causing his eyelids to fold inward due to his chubby cheeks. Varble mentioned that symptoms of this painful condition can appear in puppies, often mistaken for behavioral issues.

"We notice these puppies who are six months old and are in a bad mood. They are not learning well, still have accidents in the house, and haven't stopped biting yet," she explained. "Upon closer inspection, they seem to be experiencing pain every time they blink. It's no surprise they are having difficulty focusing on their training."

Big cat breeds with short noses, like Persians and Himalayans, or chubby cheeks like Siberians, Ragdolls, and Maine coons, may also experience problems with their eyelids being misshapen, but this is a less frequent occurrence compared to dogs.

A Maine coon kitten named Jinxy, who was just 6 months old, often had trouble opening his eyes due to pain. His owner brought him to a specialist in Athens, Georgia, who was skilled in performing intricate surgery on eyelids.

"These conditions affecting the eyelids can also occur in humans. I always reassure my clients that we test these procedures on people first to ensure they are safe before performing them on their pets," explained Dr. Kate Myrna, who works as an assistant professor specializing in veterinary ophthalmology at the College of Veterinary Medicine located at the University of Georgia in Athens.

Myrna reported that Jinxy was able to open his eyes and happily purr at his owner after the operation.

These surgeries are important. If a pet is born with excessive eyelid, it will not improve on its own," she explained. "Although surgery may seem significant, it provides almost immediate relief from pain, and the eye is one of the body's quickest healing organs."

Nevertheless, cats can present a challenge when it comes to treatment. Myrna mentioned that they tend to have strong reactions when a bright light is used to get a closer look.

"Do not be shocked if your vet has to swaddle your cat like a burrito in order to perform the examination," she explained, describing the process of wrapping a towel around the cat for safe handling.

When Varble rescued Denali, a mastiff mix, at the age of 4 months, she noticed that he had swollen red glands in the corner of each eye.

Varble explained that what is commonly referred to as "cherry eye" is when the tear glands located behind the third eyelid protrude outward, resembling a small cherry in the eye's corner.

Although not always causing pain, the issue can be bothersome for dogs and exposes them to the possibility of getting hurt or infected from scratching at the eye. If not taken care of, the problem can result in dry eye and the chance of losing sight, according to professionals.

While cherry eye can affect any breed of dog, it is most frequently seen in basset hounds, beagles, cocker spaniels, Great Danes, rottweilers, and dogs with brachycephalic (flat-faced) features like boxers, bulldogs, and Pekingese.

Fixing cherry eye through surgery can be easy for a vet with experience, but in certain cases, it may be more difficult and need a vet with specialized training in eye care.

"Denali's case was quite serious," Varble explained. "Luckily, the specialist managed to preserve the gland in her eye. This is crucial because if we end up having to remove the gland, it raises the risk of dry eye in those dogs post-surgery."

Sadly, there are only 500 veterinary eye specialists in the US, which can make it challenging for pet owners and regular veterinarians to receive prompt care, as stated by Varble. To address this issue, the North American Veterinary Community organizes regular training sessions to help general veterinarians become more confident in treating basic eye injuries and abnormalities.

Varble suggested that if our primary care veterinarians can address additional eye-related issues beyond basic first aid, it would allow specialists to prioritize more urgent cases and emergencies. This approach improves overall efficiency, benefiting both the pets and their owners.

"Tired Eyes And Signs Of Harm"

There are different eye conditions that may need plastic surgery too. Mastiffs and bloodhounds are commonly born with "big droopy eyelids" that do not fully close, according to Varble.

Varble explained that some dogs have lower eyelids that are droopy, causing their eyes to not fully close when their upper eyelids come down. This can lead to dry patches on the eyes and make the dogs more susceptible to debris such as dust getting stuck in their eyes.

Sadly, a well eye can quickly become a serious emergency for vision, so it is crucial for pet owners to take action immediately if they see any signs of irritation, according to Myrna.

"If your pet has crusty eyes in the morning or some discharge around their eyes, don't panic and rush to the vet," Myrna advised.

Symptoms of a serious injury can include redness in one or both eyes, a lot of blinking or twitching of an eyelid, or an eye that stays shut or won't open, according to Myrna. Another indication is a blue tint covering the whole eye for more than two hours.

"It's not like cataracts, which appear as a white or blue hue in the pupil," Myrna explained. "If the entire eye looks cloudy blue, it might be due to excessive fluid retention, indicating a problem that requires immediate attention."

Keep in mind, a scratched eye can quickly get infected and transition from a minor injury to a serious one that may require surgery or result in the loss of the eye and vision in a short amount of time.