Guest Comments by Angela Leary

Leary handles media relations for the Animals Asia Foundation (AAF), a Hong Kong-based charity known for its work to rescue moon bears from bile farms in China and Vietnam.

CHENGDU, Sichuan Province, China -- Here’s an update on your recent feature story (Gift Surgery May Restore Big Bear’s Sight) about Snoopy, the blind bear who underwent eye surgery last week.

For Snoopy’s right eye, it’s so far, so good. She’s having two weeks of den-rest to recover and to ensure proper healing before any rough play. There’s a blood clot in her right eye, which is normal after surgery.

This is the eye on which Dr Claudia Hartley performed a synthetic-lens implant and with the best prospects for good vision. But it may be another week before the blood clot dissipates and the veterinary team gets a clearer understanding of the extent of Snoopy’s vision.

Initially, Snoopy went into a recovery cage after her operation, but the cage distressed her, and so she was returned to her den. “Soon she became her normal self, clearly happy to be home,” said the AAF founder, Jill Robinson.

Now Snoopy seems to move her eyes, not just her head as before, towards the sounds and smells associated with food. “She looks so contented,” said Dr Hartley, who feels encouraged that the bear appears to follow movement with her eyes. “I’m still not sure how much vision she has because bears are very difficult to test visually.” (Their fantastic noses and great hearing can make a blind bear act sighted.)

Another bear, Sophie, had surgery performed by Dr David Donaldson, the head of ophthalmology for Britain’s Animal Health Trust. Sophie had cataracts in both eyes. The retina in her right eye no longer functioned.

“Fortunately, her left eye had a functioning retina,” Dr Donaldson said. “The cataract surgery went extremely well, and we placed a false lens too. I have high hopes for her visual rehabilitation.”

A third bear, Margeaux, faces an optimistic outlook after cataract surgery on her left eye. But she still sees with her right eye so the impact on her life will be less.

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