Blinded owl gets sight with operation

[Flaxbee]

THis is a very cool story, thought you guys might like it:




http://www.salon.com/news/wire/2004/02/12/owl/index.html


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Feb. 12, 2004 | MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A great horned owl found starving in the wild because it had gone blind could be released this spring after having new eye lenses implanted in a first-of-its-kind surgery.

The owl, named Minerva by medical personnel, underwent a follow-up exam Wednesday by Dr. Chris Murphy, as another member of the avian medical team, Dr. Renee Carter, restrained the owl in a blue towel.

"Perfect," Murphy said.

"I think the bird looks gorgeous," added Murphy, a board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist with bird expertise. "Ounce for ounce, this is considered one of the toughest birds on the face of the earth."

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A resident told Manitowoc-area wildlife rehabilitators Sue and Jerry Theys the owl had been sitting on a fence for three days.

Sue Theys netted the weakened owl, believed to be female because of its large size, and examined it.

"I noticed the white in her eyes and suspected cataracts," she said.

A local veterinarian confirmed the diagnosis.

The owl was starving because it couldn't see well enough to hunt.

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Murphy happened to have a pair of lenses on hand that had been custom-made six years ago for another great horned owl, which proved to be an unfit candidate for the surgery.

The lenses were designed by Murphy and Dr. Chuck Stuhr, then made for free by Storz Opthalmics, a company that has been bought by Bausch & Lomb.

"It was done as a goodwill gesture," Bausch & Lomb spokeswoman Meg Graham said. "We've never made a lens for a great horned owl before or since, and we're just thrilled the lenses were able to be used."

Minerva was anesthetized for the operation. With Murphy supervising, Carter and fellow resident Katie Diehl implanted the new lenses.

"To the best of my knowledge, this has not been done anywhere," Murphy said.



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The Theys, who operate Wildlife of Wisconsin wildlife rehabilitation, paid for $300 of the $1,800 procedure, with the veterinary school donating the rest.

[Insider]

1. talk about 'feel good' stories

thanks for posting. all warm & fuzzy over here

[DemNoir]

2. How do they know?

Was the Owl able to read the eye chart out loud?

[Flaxbee]

3. kick

n/t