Eye disease in dogs is a common problem that can affect both the health and well-being of the animals. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence and incidence of the most common eye diseases in a large population of dogs from two stray dog centers in northwestern Romania over a two-year period.We conducted a retrospective observational study of 208 eye diseases in two dog shelters in northwestern Romania: the “Ham Ham” Association and the “Free Life” Association in Satu Mare County. The study spanned from January 2022 to December 2023. We collected data on eye disease status from a total of 2293 dogs. The dogs were categorized into three age groups: young dogs (under 2 years), adult dogs (2 to 7 years), and senior dogs (over 7 years). Additionally, the dogs were grouped by sterilization status and gender. The statistical analysis was performed using Pearson’s chi-squared test, Student’s t-test, and binary logistic regression. The prevalence of ocular diseases in this study was 9.07%, with 208 out of 2293 dogs diagnosed with eye problems. The most common ocular diseases observed were conjunctivitis (58/208 or 27.9%), eyelid issues (50/208 or 24%), cataracts (40/208 or 19.2%), glaucoma (13/208 or 6.3%), keratopathies (10/208 or 4.8%), traumatic eye injuries (10/208 or 4.8%), foreign bodies (7/208 or 3.4%), blepharitis (5/208 or 2.4%), proptosis (3/208 or 1.4%), progressive retinal atrophy ((3/208 or 1.4%), retinal detachment ((3/208 or 1.4%), and dry eye (2/208 or 1%). Among the three age groups, puppies and young dogs (under 2 years) were the most affected, with a punctual prevalence of 50.96% at the “Free Life” center and 65.51% at the “Ham Ham” center. Compared with older dogs, the younger dogs were 4.91 times more likely to develop conjunctivitis (OR = 4.91, p = 0.001), 9.38 times more likely to develop eyelid problems (OR = 9.38, p < 0.000), and 0.31 times less likely to develop cataracts (OR = 0.31, p = 0.019).Our epidemiological study found that eye diseases are common among shelter dogs, with incidence rates (new cases over a specific period) varying by age. The youngest and oldest dogs were the most affected, with the highest prevalence observed in the youngest group. The study also highlighted the significant impact of factors such as the shelter center (p < 0.000), age (p < 0.000), and sterilization status (p < 0.000) on the prevalence of eye disorders. These findings underscore the need for enhanced awareness about eye diseases and their risk factors to facilitate early diagnosis and treatment.

Cataracts are one of the leading causes of vision loss in dogs, significantly impairing their quality of life and visual behavior. Phacoemulsification, followed by intraocular lens (IOL) implantation, is currently the gold standard for visual rehabilitation. This non-randomized clinical study included 60 dogs (120 eyes)of various breeds, ages, and sizes, diagnosed with cataracts of different etiologies and degrees of evolution (incipient, mature, hypermature, and intumescent). Postoperative visual function was assessed using conventional neuro-ophthalmologic tests (menace response, cotton ball test, maze navigation) and a custom-designed visual scoring scale developed by the authors to objectively quantify functional recovery. The bimanual technique (Phaco 2) showed slightly shorter surgical times than the monomanual approach (Phaco 1), with significant differences during the capsulorhexis (T1) and IOL implantation (T4) phases (p < 0.05). Postoperative inflammation was mild and transient, with no IOL decentration or posterior capsule opacification observed over 60 days. Visual function improved progressively, with 79.2% (95/120 eyes) reaching functional vision by two months and mean recovery exceeding 90%of normal by day 30. Both techniques provided favorable short-term outcomes for canine cataract extraction, with outcomes mainly influenced by cataract type and lens consistency. The proposed visual scoring system represents a preliminary clinical tool that may support standardized evaluation of postoperative vision in dogs. The results highlight the importance of ongoing refinement in surgical training and the standardization of phacoemulsification protocols to improve reproducibility and long-term outcomes in veterinary ophthalmology.