74 USE OF DIODE LASER IN OPHTHALMOLOGY SURGERIES IN DOGS AND CATS: 161 CASES (2019-2022) Iuliana IONAȘCU University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, 105 Splaiul Independentei, District 1, Bucharest, Romania Corresponding author email: iuliana.ionascu@usamv.ro Abstract Recently used in veterinary medicine, the diode laser represents the surgical option for the entire eye pathology in dogs and cats. It is indicated in: eyelid tumours, trichiasis, distichiasis, conjunctival tumours, iris melanosis, uveal cysts, iris tumours, intraocular tumours, retrobulbar tumours and glaucoma. The diode laser for veterinary use has programs set for each surgical option, which provides intraoperative comfort for surgeon. The study was conducted over a period of 3 years (November 2019-November 2022) in 161 patients. The favourable postoperative evolution with the absence of complications was highlighted in the case of tumours, uveal cysts, and iris melanosis. In glaucoma cases, transscleral cyclophotocoagulation is not effective, 85% of the cases remained blind. The use of the diode laser in the case of symblepharon highlighted the rapid recurrence accompanied by neovascularization. Experimental using of diode laser in pigmentary keratitis revealed a short period of time with clear cornea after removing the pigmentation and the neovascularization was abundant. Key words: diode laser surgery, glaucoma, ocular tumours, symblepharon. INTRODUCTION The diode laser in veterinary ophthalmology (transcleral cyclophotocoagulation) has been used for glaucoma surgical treatment in: dogs (Cook et al., 1997; Hardman et al., 2001; Spiess, 2012; Sapienza et al., 2018; Story et al., 2021) and horses (Annear et al., 2010; Cavens et al., 2012, Gellat et al., 2007, Wilkie, 2010). For deflation and coagulation of uveal cysts in dogs, cats and horses, Gemensky et al., reported in 2004 that semiconductor diode laser coagulation of anterior uveal cysts is safe, effective and noninvasive. Stas et al., in 2022 used diode laser in iris cysts in horses with good results. In 2002, Cook et al., treated iris melanoma using diode laser photocoagulation in 23 dogs. The conclusion of the study was the method is safe and effective for isolated and pigmented iris masses in dogs. In 1996, Sullivan et al., used photocoagulation of limbal melanoma in dogs and cats and in 2016, Andreani et al., evaluated effectiveness and safety of debulking and diode laser photocoagulation (DPC) for the treatment of limbal melanoma (LM). Transpupillary diode laser retinopexy had good results (Pizzirani et al., 2003). Since 1996, ARC-Laser produced and developed the medical laser systems in human surgery. In 2011 an important step in the development of diode laser ocular surgery in veterinary medicine was the adaptation of the ARC laser device from human medicine. User-friendly and with the work parameters preset in the software and at the same time adjustable during the operation, ARC remains the easiest laser system to use. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of use of diode laser in retrobulbar tumours in dog and cats, corneal tumour in dog, symblepharon in cats and pigmentary keratitis in dog evaluating the long-term postoperative outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS Medical records of 161 cases (98 dogs and 63 cats) underwent laser diode surgery from November 2019 to November 2022, were reviewed. All cases underwent complete ophthalmic and physical examination. Prior to surgery the additional diagnostic tests, such as complete blood count and serum biochemistry were performed. Scientifc Works. Series C. Veterinary Medicine. Vol. LXIX (1), 2023 ISSN 2065-1295; ISSN 2343-9394 (CD-ROM); ISSN 2067-3663 (Online); ISSN-L 2065-1295