Photo credits: Marcus Doshi:

April 8, 2025 3:30 a.m.

Wildlife Safari has announced that renowned veterinary ophthalmologist Dr. Casandra Bliss of Bliss Animal Eye Care in Medford has achieved a remarkable milestone – successfully performing cataract surgery on two female African lions in a single day.

A safari release said the lionesses, Serafina and Mtai, were recently diagnosed with cataracts by Dr. Bliss following the initial discovery of cloudiness developing in each of their right eyes by the park’s dedicated carnivore team and veterinary staff. Cataracts can cause blurred vision and sensitivity to light, and the surgery helps restore clear sight.

Dr. Bliss has been a trusted partner of Wildlife Safari since 2014 and has provided expert care for a variety of species at the park – including bears, cheetahs, lions, flamingos, and lemurs. This procedure involves removing the cloudy lens – the cataract – and replacing it with a clear artificial one. To do this, Doctor Bliss used a technique which uses ultrasonic energy to break up the cataract, creating space for the new artificial lens to be placed.

To ensure the procedure caused minimal disruption to the animals, Dr. Bliss assembled a specialized team of veterinary experts and surgical equipment professionals from across the country. A crew carefully disassembled and transported Dr. Bliss’ specialized Zeiss surgical microscope – a vital tool for the delicate procedure in the sanctuary’s surgical suite. The custom lenses, based on precise preoperative measurements, were crafted in Germany while the ultrasonic surgical tool for the procedure was supplied by a Swiss company.

Wildlife Safari’s Head Veterinarian Dr. Benji Alcantar said, “We are closely monitoring the lion’s recovery, but the procedure itself went perfectly: As of Monday, Dr. Bliss and Wildlife Safari say that Serafina and Mtai have made a full recovery with improved vision and a better quality of life.

Pictures from the procedure are linked with our story at www.541radio.com