Abstract

Cataracts and lens luxations are a problem in captive and wild pinnipeds. Risk factors include lack of shade, aging, history of eye diseases and fighting. A review of cases that have undergone surgical lens removal is presented here. Forty-six pinnipeds underwent lensectomy between 2002 and 2011. Forty-five animals were under human care and one was stranded but returned to the wild following recovery. There were 30 males, 16 females, average age was 21.6 years (7 months to 34 years), and included 36 Zalophus californianus, 5 Phoca vitulina, 1 Mirounga angustirostri, 1 Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus, and 2 Neophoca cinerea. Eighty eyes underwent surgery, 40 had anterior luxations, 36 lenses were behind the iris but the lens capsule was not attached peripherally (of these, 2 had medial strabismus), 4 lenses were in position and attached. Surgery was bilateral in 34 animals, unilateral in 11 and one had both lenses removed at different times. The youngest animal underwent phacoemulsification with posterior capsulotomy; others underwent intracapsular or extracapsular approach. All eyes with pre-existing anterior lens luxations have dense corneal fibrosis. Medial strabismus did not resolve. Four eyes developed chronic corneal fibrosis presumably exacerbated by not dry-docking post-operatively. Twenty-one animals have concurrent Otarid Keratitis. One eye developed post-operative endophthalmitis. Three eyes developed intermittent corneal stromal abscesses, 2 eyes (same animal) remain stable and sighted on systemic antifungals. Vision was improved in all but 5 eyes and pain due to anterior luxation was perceived as resolved in all eyes. The elephant seal pup was released following recovery.