An image of Connie's right eye showing one month of progress.

Opthalmologists have successfully repaired the site of a fast-growing melanoma.

Veterinary specialists have successfully removed a fast-growing melanoma from a dog's eye and repaired it with a corneal transplant.

Labrador retriever Connie was referred to opthalmologists at Davies and London Vet Specialists with a black growth in her right eye. According to her owner, the growth had been rapidly increasing in size over the past couple of weeks.

An opthalmic exam confirmed a large mass affecting the sclera and cornea of Connie's right eye spanning 10mm in diameter. The specialists decided that, owing to the rate at which the mass was growing, they needed to act fast to save Connie's vision.

The next day, the team led by Dr Ioannis Tzouganakis caried out a microsurgical procedure while Connie was under general anaeasthetic to remove the mass. 

They repaired the site of surgery using a corneal transplant (xenograft), meticulously stitching the material to the eye's surface using hair-thin sutures. The team also performed cryotherapy at the same time as surgery to reduce the risk of the mass growing back. 

Connie was discharged two days later and is said to be making excellent progess. The wound from surgery has healed and her vision is uncompromised. 

Connie’s owner Pip Allen from London said: “Ioannis was completely professional, kind and caring from the start. From Connie’s first consultation Ioannis put me at ease (and Connie!) about the suggested procedure, what was going to happen, the likely outcome(s) and recovery period.

“He not only saved Connie’s eye, but also, we honestly cannot tell that there has been such a huge surgical intervention. We will be forever grateful to Ioannis and his team at Davies. Fingers crossed, but if we had to do it all again, we would.”

Image (C) Davies and London Veterinary Specialists.