New study at Kyoto University, Japan discovered that Banobo chimps can suffer far-sightedness or Presbyopia after age 40. As study unfolds, animal advocates all over the world turn the tables and suggest that eyeglasses should be provided for the animals to wear- the chimps, dogs and cats for instance.
A very interesting study forwarded by Heungjin Ryu of the Primate Research Institute of Kyoto University reveals that Banobo chimps, like us humans, can suffer from far-sightedness as they are about to become 40 or older. The Kyoto academics, led by Ryu were able to observe elderly chimps grooming at very far intervals, Seeker reported.
The narrowing of the eyesight at a certain age can be a major hindrance for these elderly chimps. Quite obviously, with narrowed vision, an animal can longer accomplish things the way it uses to. Nevertheless, with a far-sight, the animal may have difficulties over defending oneself from threats.
Such sight-diminishing phenomenon among hominidae is no longer surprising. What is rather surprising about this discovery is Ryu's conclusion in relation to medical experiments that says it is actually best to study human's relatives like anthropoids firstly before solely focusing on the genes, the Japan Times reported.
For one good reason, Presbyopia among chimps breaks the popular idea that far-sightedness is acquired through modern human lifestyle. Rather, Presbyopia is a natural aging phenomenon for hominidae and possibly, other related species.
Animal advocates all over the world eventually turned the tables and suggested that technology in the future should be directed towards providing correctional eyeglasses for these affected animals. Wherefore, cats and dogs which happen to be mostly vulnerable to many forms of eye infection, could actually benefit from wearing sporting prescription sunglasses.
Such academic study from Kyoto University forever changed the way science and health deals with eye problems. For that, Japan deserves a snappy hand salute.
