title: Preliminary findings on the effect of melatonin on the clinical outcome of cataract surgery in dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cataract is the most prevalent cause of blindness in dogs. Phacoemulsification (PE) is currently the surgical treatment of choice to remove the opaque lens; however, it is associated with varying degrees of postoperative inflammation. We assessed the effect of melatonin on postoperative complications of canine cataract surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven diabetic and thirteen healthy owned dogs with cataracts.
  
  
  METHODS
  All dogs underwent cataract surgery by PE. The anti-inflammatory effect of melatonin was compared with the reference treatments: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for diabetic dogs, and dexamethasone for nondiabetic dogs. Eyes were examined by means of clinical evaluation and intraocular pressure (IOP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In diabetic dogs, melatonin was more effective than topical and systemic NSAIDs in reducing the clinical score at 2, 7, and 20 days postsurgery, while it showed a similar efficacy to topical dexamethasone in dogs with hereditary cataracts. IOP decreased in all groups at 2 days postsurgery, but this decrease reached statistical significance only in diabetic dogs treated with NSAIDs, and persisted at 7 days postsurgery in this group. Afterward, IOP returned to normal values in all groups. Melatonin decreased the occurrence of surgical sequelae in diabetic and nondiabetic dogs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that melatonin might constitute a useful tool for reducing postoperative PE complications in dogs.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Retinal Neurochemistry and Experimental Ophthalmology, Department of Human Biochemistry, School of Medicine/CEFyBO, University of Buenos Aires/CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Pablo H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Sande
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Retinal Neurochemistry and Experimental Ophthalmology, Department of Human Biochemistry, School of Medicine/CEFyBO, University of Buenos Aires/CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Álvarez
authors.affiliation: CEBBAD- Natural and Anthropological Sciences, Superior Research Institute, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Calcagno
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Retinal Neurochemistry and Experimental Ophthalmology, Department of Human Biochemistry, School of Medicine/CEFyBO, University of Buenos Aires/CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Ruth E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Rosenstein
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008550:Melatonin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008550:Melatonin
keywords: cataract; dog; melatonin; phacoemulsification; postoperative complications