As often discussed in Eyetube Picks, surgical challenges are standard practice for the modern cataract and refractive surgeon. Some cases, however, stump us more than others. This past June, I encountered such a case when I met Ana.

Ana is a 12-year-old golden lion tamarin monkey who lives at the Akron Zoo. When the staff there noticed she was having difficulty navigating her exhibit, a veterinary ophthalmologist diagnosed Ana with dense bilateral cataracts. The catch? Ana is a 1.5-pound monkey, with a white-to-white measurement of 5 mm and an axial length of 12 mm—too small for the standard techniques utilized at the zoo.

When I received the call asking me to perform Ana’s cataract surgery, I knew up front that this procedure would be a challenge. The video below showcases the many obstacles we had to overcome in its execution, including where to perform the surgery and which technologies to use. An atypical case for sure, but one that will stick with me forever.

Video | Hear more from Ana’s team.