Retrospective of Clinical Findings and Results of Lensectomies in Pinnipeds: 46 Cases
IAAAM 2011
Carmen M.H. Colitz1; Lara A. Croft2; Chris Dold2; Scott A. Gearhart2; Frances M.D. Gulland3; Zoltan S. Gyimesi4; Frederike Hanke5; Lauren L. Howard6; Ed Latson7; Barb Mangold8; Charles A. Manire9; Duan March10; Stephanie McCain11; Hendrik Nollens12; June Olds13; Lauren J. Palmer14; Diana Procter15; Michael S. Renner1; Maya M. Rodriguez16; Thomas H. Reidarson17; Todd L. Schmitt12; W. Kirk Suedmeyer18; Meg Sutherland-Smith19; Jenifer A. Zeligs20
1Aquatic Animal Eye Care, LLC, Jupiter, FL, USA; 2SeaWorld Orlando, Orlando, FL, USA; 3The Marine Mammal Center, Sausalito, CA, USA; 4Louisville Zoological Garden, Louisville, KY, USA; 5Marine Science Center, University of Rostock, Rostock, Germany; 6Houston Zoo, Inc., Houston, TX, USA; 7Central Park Aquatic Health, Buffalo, NY and Aquarium of Niagara, Niagara Falls, NY, USA; 8Maritime Aquarium, Norwalk, CT, USA; 9Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas; 10Pet Porpoise Pool, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia; 11Birmingham Zoo, Birmingham, AL, USA; 12SeaWorld San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA; 13Blank Park Zoo, Des Moines, IA, USA; 14The Marine Mammal Care Center at Fort MacArthur, San Pedro, CA, USA; 15Six Flags Discovery Kingdom, Vallejo, CA, USA; 16The Miami Seaquarium, Miami, FL, USA; 17Reidarson Group, Netherlands Antilles; 18Kansas City Zoo, Kansas City, MO, USA; 19San Diego Zoo, San Diego, CA, USA; 20Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, CA, USA

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.

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Carmen M.H. Colitz
Aquatic Animal Eye Care, LLC
Jupiter, FL, USA


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