In a “World-First” Procedure, Elderly Penguins Receive Custom Lenses.

The Mandai Wildlife Reserve announced Tuesday that three elderly penguins from a Singapore zoo underwent successful cataract surgery and received new custom-made lenses, marking the first time the procedure has been performed on the animals.

Six penguins from Jurong Bird Park underwent surgery to “enhance their sight and improve their quality of life,” which included the removal of cloudy lenses caused by cataracts. Only three king penguins received the artificial lens.

The procedure was chosen for king penguins because they are a larger species with eyes that are large and stable enough to hold the custom lenses in place. The lenses were custom-made in Germany to fit each penguin’s eye based on their measurements, and the process took about two months.

The penguins recovered completely two months after the procedures and are now back with their colony in Jurong Bird Park. Dr. Ellen Rasidi, a veterinarian with the Mandai Wildlife Group, said in a statement that all of the penguins are doing well.