Philly Zoo snow leopard cub needs 2nd eye surgery

PHILADELPHIA-October 28, 2011 The zoo's two new cubs needed surgery on their eyelids. The condition, called upper eyelid coloboma, leaves a gap at the edge of the eyelid and can cause discomfort and infections from hairs touching the eye.

Zookeepers noticed something was amiss shortly after the otherwise healthy cubs were born in June.

After the first surgeries were performed two weeks ago, zookeepers noticed one cub still had an irritated eye. University of Pennsylvania veterinary ophthalmologists will perform the second surgery this week.

The zoo says the condition occurs in animals and humans but is more common in snow leopards than other species.

The cubs will make their public debut next month.

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