Meng Youn'an a prestigous Chinese eye surgeon said that a follow up eye examination of an elderly giant panda Xiaoming proved the cataract that he removed on Decemebr 20th 2008 was successful.

Meng Youn'an has helped over 30,000 patients regain their sight, but the operation in December was the first time he ha helped a Giant Panda.

Though the removal of the cataract was a success he was unable to implant an artificial lens in Xiaoming's eye. Meng said "It seems pandas need a tailor made lens for them. We have contacted a foreign supplier to make it".

The Shaanxi Research Centre of Rare Wild Animal Rescue and Breeding, where Xiaoming lives, has said they will carry out examinations of the all 18 pandas living at the centre to help collect data for the development of the lens.