Pioneering eye operation renders elephant almost completely blind

Published on 17/08/2012 00:00

AN ELEPHANT, which became the first in Britain to undergo pioneering surgery to remove a damaged eye, is now believed to be almost completely blind after concerns over the health of the remaining eye.

In 2011 Duchess, Paignton Zoo’s 42-year-old African elephant, was the first in the country to have an eye removed. She had the ground-breaking operation because of glaucoma in her right eye. Cataracts left her with limited sight in her left. Now, a routine eye check has shown that what vision remains is deteriorating.

Neil Bemment, curator at the Devon zoo, said: “The cataract has worsened since her last check-up four months ago. She is, to all intents and purposes, now blind, but she is not in pain, which is some good news.”