Successful Surgical Removal of the Crystalline Lenses in a Black-Necked Swan (Cygnus melancoryphus).

Abstract

A captive-bred, adult, male, black-necked swan (Cygnus melancoryphus) was presented for evaluation of apparent vision loss due to cataract formation of an unknown duration. The animal was having difficulty navigating its enclosure, and lenticular opacities had been previously noted in both eyes. On examination, bilateral hypermature cataracts were diagnosed. Following preoperative diagnostic testing, surgical removal of the crystalline lenses in both eyes was performed using minor modifications of standard techniques. Follow-up examination and behavioral observation at 60 days postsurgery indicated that vision had been successfully restored without complications. We conclude that successful surgical removal of cataracts is possible in this species using modifications of standard techniques.