The staff turned to Akron-based Clear Choice Laser Center, the Cleveland Eye Clinic and Warrensville Heights, Ohio-based Great Lakes Veterinary Specialists to help.
Here’s what you should know:
1. William Wiley, MD, Clear Choice Laser Surgery’s medical director, volunteered the clinic’s services to perform the operation for free.
2. Dr. Emily Conway, a veterinary ophthalmologist at Great Lakes Veterinary Specialists, said although this wasn’t the first time a physician performed cataract surgery on a monkey, it was the first time a physician performed a procedure on a monkey as small as Ana, who weighs 1.25 pounds.
3. Dr. Wiley said the clinic had to use micro-instruments and in some cases develop new instruments suited for Ana’s eyes. Dr. Wiley volunteered for the opportunity because of a love of animals.
He said to the Beacon Journal, ““It was easy for me to say yes when asked to help a primate in need of eye care. Animals in need of medical care tug on our heart strings in unique ways. In these instances, animals in need truly rely on our intervention as there is no other avenue of assistance.”
4. The physicians performed the surgery on June 3. Ana is off-exhibit as she recovers, and hopefully she’ll go back to monkeying around once she recovers. Golden lion tamarins are endangered because of deforestation in Africa.
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