These Penguins Once Were Blind But Now They See

Did you know that penguins can get surgery to remove cataracts?

It’s true!

In August, SeaWorld Orlando’s Veterinary and Aviculture teams worked with a local animal clinic to remove cataracts from four penguins all in their early to late 20s.

Here’s how they did it:

Prior to surgery, the penguins first had their eyes checked by the veterinarian.

Then Dr. Heidi Denis of Animal Eye Associates and SeaWorld’s Veterinary and Aviculture team got to work to removing the cataracts.

The result: the cataracts were removed!

A final, post-surgery check was conducted on the penguins by SeaWorld’s Senior Veterinarian Dr. Lara Croft.

And there you have it! Penguins that are ecstatic they can see again!

Penguins generally begin having eye problems in their mid-twenties and this hinders their ability to eat and swim on their own. In the wild, they normally don’t make it long after cataracts develop due to starvation or predators.

Thankfully veterinarians and places like SeaWorld have developed ways to help these animals allowing them to live full and happy lives!

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