INNOVATIVE SURGERY GIVES BLIND BEARS SIGHT UK veterinary charity restores vision to animals across the world
A team of vets from the UK has given the gift of sight to rescued Moon Bears in China, thanks to pioneering new equipment.
Claudia Hartley and David Donaldson from the UK’s Animal Health Trust (AHT) charity, travelled to the Animals Asia Foundation’s Moon Bear Rescue Centre in Chengdu, China to perform the innovative and life-altering surgery. The AHT vets operated on ten bears in total, extracting cataracts in some cases and correcting vision in others. The Moon Bears are rescued from torturous bear bile farms, where their bile is milked for use in Chinese medicines on a daily basis. They are often kept in coffin-sized cages for up to 25 years and denied access to food and water as this increases their bile production. This is a legal state-licensed enterprise in China. It is believed this practice causes many health issues for the bears. Along with liver cancer, which 44 per cent of rescued bears die with, eye disease is also common. Snoopy, one of the bears operated on has been at the sanctuary since 2003. Moon Bears have an incredible sense of smell which often masks their blindness. After her arrival, staff realised Snoopy was blind. She was diagnosed with severe cataracts in both eyes. Snoopy waited six years for sight, until the team from the AHT were able to restore her vision. It was not immediately evident that she could see post-surgery but a few days later her bear manager saw Snoopy watching her as she walked past her den. Snoopy’s surgery, and the other procedures, were possible because of brand new technology called a phaco-emulsification kit. It is lighter and more portable allowing cataract surgery to be carried out easily on larger animals. Claudia Hartley, AHT ophthalmologist, said: “On my first visit I saw several bears I knew I could help. One of those was Snoopy – an incredibly gentle and beautiful bear. However the difficulty of getting heavy and cumbersome equipment to China for the surgeries made it virtually impossible. “This new machine changes that. With it we’ve already given sight back to bears who have suffered immeasurably. The kit really will revolutionise the way we can treat eye disease in larger animals. I’m excited to think of all the animals whose sight we can save using this new technology.” The technology will also change the lives of horses in the UK. It makes it possible to control Equine Recurrent Uveitis, the most common cause of blindness in horses. This is through a procedure known as vitrectomy. The AHT is the first place in the UK to offer this treatment to horses. Claudia added: “This machine will help restore sight to many animals. It’s an incredible development for ophthalmologists across the world. We’ve already operated successfully on bears, lions and horses with it. Having it at the AHT means we can save the sight of many larger animals which previously would have been blind permanently.” The AHT has launched a ‘Sight for Sore Eyes’ campaign to raise funds to pay for the phaco-emulsification machine, which costs £35,000. Anyone wishing to donate, or find out more about the campaign, can do so at www.sightforsoreeyes.org.uk Ends Additional notes: • The Animal Health Trust is an independent charity, employing over 200 scientists, vets and support workers. It aims to improve the health and welfare of horses, dogs and cats through research. It also provides specialist referral services and continuous education to vets. Visit our website at www.aht.org.uk • The AHT Unit of Comparative Ophthalmology was established in 1975. It offers a fully comprehensive referral service in the medical and surgical treatment of ophthalmic disorders. It encourages early referral and offers a 24/7 service. • The Asiatic Black Bear or ‘Moon Bear’ is an endangered species protected by CITES. They are known as Moon Bears due to the yellowy-white crescent of fur splashed on their chests. • Animals Asia Foundation, established in 1998, opened its China bear rescue sanctuary in 2000. Since then it has rescued more than 245 bears. More information can be found at www.animalsasia.org
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