New Laser Eye Treatment Launched At Leading Cambridge Animal Hospital

The brand-new service at Linnaeus-owned DWR Veterinary Specialists uses a state-of-the-art 810 nm diode laser and has already successfully treated horses and dogs with eye problems.

Dogs are treated at DWR in Six Mile Bottom, while the laser is transported to the nearby University of Cambridge, where DWR hold an eye clinic, so horses can be treated under standing sedation while in stocks.

For horses, the non-invasive laser procedure removes cysts which are blocking the pupil and impairing vision. The treatment has already restored the vision in a horse owned by a veterinary nurse at DWR. 

Dogs can also benefit, as the laser removes melanomas in the iris, if they are caught early. As they are typically benign in this species, there is no concern of spreading cancer elsewhere in the patient. It also reduces the risk of the iris bleeding and can stop the development of glaucoma and the loss of an eye.

DWR has already successfully treated a young Labrador which should now keep its vision for at least the rest of its working life.

Georgina Fricker, consultant in ophthalmology at DWR, said: “Our new laser eye service is already proving very successful in restoring the vision in horses and dogs who have sight problems.

“It’s a non-invasive procedure to treat cysts in horses and melanomas in dogs’ irises. We’d urge any pet owner who suspects their animal to have such a condition to get it diagnosed at their local vet, who can then refer the patient to us for the laser treatment.”

The laser can also be used to treat some types of retinal detachment in animals to stop them detaching further.

DWR Veterinary Specialists offers specialist-led care in anaesthesia and analgesia, cardiology, dermatology, diagnostic imaging, diagnostic pathology, emergency and critical care, internal medicine, interventional radiology, neurology and neurosurgery, oncology, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, physiotherapy and soft tissue surgery.

For more information, visit www.dickwhitereferrals.com or search for DWR Veterinary Specialists on social media.