Cataract surgery with foldable intraocular lens implants in captive lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla).
Two juvenile, male, captive-born lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) with the same father but different mothers developed bilateral cataracts. The cataracts were surgically removed within 6 yr and 3 mo, respectively, of diagnosis, and foldable intraocular lenses were implanted. Although vision was not restored in one eye with a mature, 6-yr-old cataract in gorilla A, surgical intervention on the other eye was performed before a complete cataract developed, and vision was fully restored. Gorilla B was treated at the age of 17 mo, and normal visual development proceeded in both eyes. This animal developed bilateral after-cataract and therefore needed a second intervention in both eyes using Nd:YAG laser treatment. The genetic component of juvenile cataracts should be considered in breeding management programs.
de Faber
J T H N
JT
Rotterdam Eye Hospital, 3011 BH Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Pameijer
J H
JH
Schaftenaar
W
W
D000818:Animals; D000836:Animals, Zoo; D018420:Ape Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000601:surgery*; D002386:Cataract / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary*; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D006071:Gorilla gorilla / Q000235:genetics / Q000601:surgery*; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome