Elderly Penguins in Singapore Undergo Cataract and Lens Implant Surgery

Penguin Intraocular Lens Implantation is the World's First
"Surgery Successful... Vision Restored, Activity Regained"

The veterinary community in Singapore successfully performed cataract surgery and intraocular lens implantation on elderly penguins. It is reported that this is the world's first case of penguins receiving intraocular lens implantation.

According to foreign media including the US CNN and CBS broadcasts on the 15th (local time), the Singapore animal protection organization 'Mandai Wildlife Reserve' announced in a statement the day before that six penguins living in the Jurong Bird Park in the western Jurong area underwent cataract surgery two months ago, and among them, three also received intraocular lens implantation.

A Singapore penguin that underwent ophthalmic treatment such as cataract surgery.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Among them, three are King Penguins, all over 20 years old, and the rest are Humboldt Penguins aged between 7 and 13. King Penguins, the second largest penguin species after Emperor Penguins, can grow up to 18 kg in weight and 1 meter in height, with an average lifespan of about 26 years. All six penguins underwent cataract surgery two months ago, and the three elderly King Penguins additionally received customized intraocular lens implantation. The Mandai Wildlife Reserve stated that this is the world's first time penguins have received intraocular lens implantation.

Veterinarian Ellen Rashidi, who participated in the surgery, explained the reason for performing cataract surgery: "We noticed that the penguins' eyes had become cloudy and they seemed to have difficulty seeing objects in front of them." She added, "To improve the penguins' vision, we performed lens implantation following the cataract surgery. In the case of King Penguins, their eyes are larger compared to other penguins, making them suitable candidates for lens implantation." The lenses used for the implantation were custom-made in Germany over two months to perfectly fit the eyes of the three King Penguins.

Another veterinarian involved in the surgery, Gladys Boo, said, "We faced difficulties during the procedure because the third eyelid, which protects the penguin's eyes underwater, kept closing," but expressed satisfaction, saying, "This lens implantation has set a new milestone in veterinary medicine."

Lens inserted in the eyeball of an Emperor penguin.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

CNN reported that after the surgery, the six penguins were unable to enter the water for a while and had to receive eye drops twice daily. It is now known that all the penguins have regained their vision and restored their previous levels of activity and responsiveness. Rashidi shared the news, saying, "I am happy to see the penguins moving actively with improved vision," and "The King Penguins are also adapting well to their new lenses."

Jurong Bird Park, Singapore's oldest tourist attraction and the largest bird park in Asia, operates not only as a popular tourist destination but also runs a bird hospital and avian research and conservation center, leading efforts to protect endangered rare bird species. Since January 3rd, Jurong Bird Park has been temporarily closed and relocated to the Mandai Wildlife Reserve in northern Singapore, with plans to reopen in the second quarter of next year under the name 'Bird Paradise.'

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.