Amsterdam elephant gets contact lens - w/pic
Amsterdam elephant gets contact lens
Published on 25 January 2012 - 12:44pm
An elephant at Amsterdams Artis zoo has become the first elephant in Europe to be fitted with a contact lens. Her eye was injured during a scuffle with another elephant, the zoo says.
Asian elephant Win Thidas eye began streaming and she was evidently having trouble keeping it open because of the pain. Vet Anne-Marie Verbruggen was called in, and an examination revealed that the elephants cornea had been damaged, most likely by a twig.
The vet says she has often fitted horses with contact lenses, but this is the first time shes attempted the procedure with an elephant. Fortunately Win Thida was very cooperative, after daily training sessions helped her work up to the operation. She had to remain standing under anaesthetic, as elephants cant lie down for long before their immense weight hampers their breathing.
The vet needed to stand on a ladder to reach her patients eye. The treatment took less than an hour, and Win Thida seemed happier straight away. She was immediately able to keep her eye open more easily. Protected by the contact lens, the wound on her cornea will now be able to heal, the vet says.
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http://www.rnw.nl/english/bulletin/amsterdam-elephant-gets-contact-lens
This photo made available by Artis Zoo in Amsterdam Wednesday Jan. 25, 2012, shows animal eye doctor Anne-Marie Verbruggen, right, placing a contact lens in the left eye of Win Thida, a 44-year-old Asian elephant at Artis Zoo, Amsterdam, Netherlands Tuesday Jan. 24, 2012. Win Thida's cornea was damaged when playing with other elephants, the operation to place the contact lens lasted about one hour.
picture from news.daylife.com