Section: Follow-up
Optimal treatment for your pet requires a combination of home and professional care. Follow-up can be critical, especially if your pet does not improve rapidly.
Administer all prescribed medication as directed. Alert your veterinarian if you are experiencing problems treating your pet.
Intraocular surgery or laser treatment of uveal tumors always results in significant inflammation within the eye. This inflammation requires intensive medical treatment, and frequent follow-up examinations are necessary for several weeks after surgery.
Periodic ocular ultrasound examinations may be necessary to monitor for any evidence of tumor regrowth.
The risk of recurrence or regrowth of primary uveal tumors after surgical removal is possible for all malignant tumors and for all benign tumors that are incompletely removed. The prognosis for vision and survival of the eye depends upon the type of tumor, whether chemotherapy is effective for the specific tumor type, whether the entire tumor was excised during surgery, and whether the tumor is present anywhere else in the body.
It is best to remove eyes with primary uveal tumors that are extensive or that result in secondary glaucoma in order to extend the lifespan of the pet and reduce the risk of metastasis. Follow-up examinations after removal are minimal for the surgery site and focus mainly on monitoring for any evidence of metastasis.
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