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Friday, March 29, 2024
HomeNewsLocal newsTwo of Coral World's 'Geriatric' Sea Lions Undergo Eye Surgery

Two of Coral World’s ‘Geriatric’ Sea Lions Undergo Eye Surgery

A veterinary team recently performed surgeries to remove cataracts from the eyes of Coral World sea lions Rose and Omar, and addressed luxated lenses in both of Rose’s eyes. (Photo courtesy Coral World)
A veterinary team recently performed surgeries to remove cataracts from the eyes of Coral World sea lions Rose and Omar, and addressed luxated lenses in both of Rose’s eyes. (Photo courtesy Coral World)

Two of Coral World Ocean Park’s geriatric sea lions are seeing their world a little more clearly these days, thanks to a team of renowned veterinarians who assembled to perform their eye surgeries earlier this month.

The team removed cataracts from the eyes of Rose and Omar, and addressed luxated lenses in both of Rose’s eyes, according to a press release from the St. Thomas facility announcing the procedures.

Rose the sea lion. (Photo courtesy Coral World)

At about 20 years old, Rose and Omar are considered geriatric sea lions, the release noted. According to Dr. Natalie Noll, Coral World’s consulting veterinarian, vision loss due to cataracts occurs in older animals just like people.

Noll also diagnosed the lens luxation in Rose’s eyes. “Lens luxation is the dislocation of the lens inside the eye. It occurs in dogs and even cats. The luxation or shifting of the lens may be due to an inherited weakness or degeneration of the fibers that suspend the lens,” the doctor said.

Coral World has been working on assembling the team of experts and the necessary equipment for over two years, according to the release.

“Our plans to have the surgery done in 2020 were thwarted by COVID,” said General Curator Lee Kellar. “In the best circumstances, bringing together the team of veterinarians who came to Coral World for this surgery is difficult because these experts are in demand. COVID just added to the challenge.”

The team included veterinary ophthalmologists Dr. Rob Swinger and Dr. Andrew Lichtig, anesthesiologists Dr. James Bailey and Dr. Julie Balco, veterinary intern Dr. Amber Lumb, and Steven Nelson, hospital manager, both from the Mystic Aquarium in Connecticut.

Omar the sea lion. (Photo courtesy Coral World)

Coral World General Manager Trudie Prior expressed her gratitude.

“We cannot thank this incredible team of specialists enough for making time in their busy schedules to come to St. Thomas to provide this extraordinary level of care for Rose and Omar,” said Prior.

“I am also very proud of and grateful to our own team of animal welfare specialists and our veterinary staff, who dedicate themselves to the wellbeing of the animals in their care, and our facilities staff, who created an operating room for the surgery and procured all the essential equipment. They spent countless hours in preparation,” she said.

According to Kristine Tartaglio, assistant curator of marine mammals, “Our animal
care team is working hard to support Rose and Omar as they recover. And we are excited to see that both have already regained some vision.”

Gabriella Gamage, marine mammal manager of sea lions and birds, noted, “Our entire staff is excited to interact with Rose and Omar on a whole new level as they regain their vision. This will be the first time that Omar has ever seen most of his trainers! We are so thankful to Coral World’s owner Neil Prior and management for providing this life-changing care, and we are ecstatic to be part of Rose and Omar’s sighted futures.”

“Coral World makes the health and well-being of our animals a priority, including routine testing, health screenings, and preventative measures. When we cannot provide the necessary care at our facility or with our own staff, we bring in the experts or take our animals to the experts,” said Kellar.

“For example, in December 2022, our bottlenose dolphin Nola visited the St. Thomas Radiology facility, where Dr. Yuri Peterkin and his staff performed a routine CT scan on Nola.”

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