RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — For nearly 10 years, Boo the umbrella cockatoo has not been able to see clearly. He hasn’t even been able to see his new owner, Amy Hurst, who adopted him from his previous owner earlier this year.
Now, however, thanks to exotic animal veterinarians and ophthalmologists at NC State’s Veterinary Hospital, Boo — who lives in Virginia and works as a therapy animal for children with autism as well as the elderly — has sight restored in his right eye.
According to NC State, Boo underwent what’s called a phacoemulsification surgery to remove a cataract from that eye in mid-March.
“The surgery involves using specialized ultrasound equipment to break up clumps of protein that cloud the eye’s lens, and then a trained ophthalmologist gently suctions these pieces out of the eye using a handheld tool specifically designed for the procedure,” NC State said in a news release…