Seal 'doing well' after cataract operation

A cataract operation hoping to give a seal a "chance to see" for the very first time "went really well", an animal charity has said.

The Cornish Seal Sanctuary in Gweek, Cornwall, launched a fundraiser and reached a £15,600 target so resident seal Jarvis could get both his eyes treated.

Jarvis, who was rescued in 2016 with cataracts in both eyes, underwent surgery from a specialist eye vet on his right eye on Thursday, staff said.

Animal care specialist Bethan Goodridge said they "couldn't have hoped" for it to go any better and he was "recovering very well" after the "big surgery". He left eye was due treatment next year, staff said.

Goodridge said: "He [Jarvis] did really well and was stable throughout. He woke up really well and even shuffled himself out of his cage and into his pool."

She said it was a" little bit early to tell if he can see" but he had been looking around and was looking up at the stars at night.

She said he was "still very sore" and getting regular eye drops, but they would have to wait for the "inflammation to go down a bit" to tell what he could see.

Goodridge said they hoped to carry out an operation on his left eye in spring 2027 to allow for complete recovery.

She said "the amount of support has been overwhelming" and it had "been really special to share his journey with people".

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