Half-blind fish fitted with prosthetic eye at Vancouver Aquarium

A half-blind copper rockfish at the Vancouver Aquarium has been fitted with a prosthetic eye to stop underwater bullying.

Rockfish often have some health issues as they age, and this particular fish haddeveloped cataracts, the aquarium said.

In the first surgery of its kind at the aquarium, head veterinarianDr. Martin Haulenareplaced the real damaged eye with a fake one, so that other fish in its tank would stop picking on it for looking weak and sick.

Watch the video of the rockfish prosthetic surgery

Some people dont realize how much effort we give fish, Hualena said on a post on the aquarium's website.

According to the website, Haulenafixed the prostheticeye to the bone above the rockfish'seye socket while it was under anesthesiaby sewing it on with nylon sutures and attaching it with titanium clips. He wasassisted by Seattle Aquariums head vet, Dr. Lesanna Lahner during the surgery.

Another yellowtailrockfishalso underwent the same procedure and will return to an exhibit at the Vancouver International Airport.