German company S&V Technologies has created custom-made intraocular lenses (IOLs) for animals with cataracts. The acrylic IOLs are implanted in the animals’ eyes during a procedure essentially the same as cataract surgery for humans.
Human cataract surgery is the most frequently performed surgery in the United States, and more than 90 percent of patients achieve good vision. For animals, cataracts usually mean blindness, according to Indgeborg Fromberg, head of the company’s veterinary division. Treating cataracts can improve the quality of life for animals, which have relatively short life spans, Fromberg says.
The company’s lenses have generated interest from around the world, including Sea World in San Diego for a sea lion that performs tricks, an Australian nature park for a blind kangaroo and a Romanian zoo for a visually impaired lioness. Additionally, the World Wildlife Fund has paid for cataract surgery with the lens implants for brown bears in a China nature reserve.
The company’s IOLs have also been used to restore vision for racehorses, circus animals, guide dogs and domestic pets.
Although the surgery is pricey, Fromberg says that many people consider their pets to be part of their family and are willing to pay the cost to restore the vision of their beloved furry friends.
Tags: Add new tag, animals, Cataract Surgery, intraocular lenses, IOLs