Three emperor penguins diagnosed with cataracts received custom intraocular lenses to improve their vision. The intervention was successfully performed by veterinarians in Singapore.
The team noticed that the animals, all over the age of 20, were moving with difficulty, as if they couldn’t see what was in their path, veterinarian Ellen Rasidi told CNN.
The three birds were diagnosed with cataracts, an eye disease that affects humans and animals, and the process began from there. The operation was carried out two months ago and now it can be said that the penguins managed to fully recover.
Gladys Boo, a veterinary ophthalmologist who participated in the surgeries, reveals that this fact is “a milestone in veterinary medicine.” The custom-made glasses were ordered from a German company.
“As a larger species, emperor penguins have eyes large and stable enough to hold custom lenses in place, so we decided to follow this world-first procedure to improve their vision rather than remove the specks. cataracts”, describes the specialist.
Three other Humboldt penguins were also successfully operated on.
The ophthalmologist reveals that the surgery is especially tricky for the penguins, as they have a third eyelid that protects them underwater and tends to close during the operation.
After the surgery, the penguins had to stay out of the water and were given eye drops twice a day.
The animals walked normally again and returned to the Jurong Brid Park colony, known for its participation in various bird care processes. It was there that Jary, a great hornbill, was cured of cancer and fitted with a prosthetic to replace the beak that had to be amputated.
Source: TSF
