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Cataracts are common in pinnipeds, but ocular examination and surgery are complicated because of the small pupil, which is difficult to dilate with mydriatics. Vision was evident after a cataract was removed from a fur seal, using a manual technique of irrigation and aspiration. Access to the lens was limited by the constricted pupil, which could not be dilated with tropicamide, phenylephrine, or atropine.

A composite titanium/silicone rubber clip has been developed for female sterilization. The 12.7 mm long metal clip is lined with silicone rubber and is bent round the Fallopian tube by means of an applicator that can be used laparoscopically. As tubal necorsis occurs, the rubber expands to keep the lumen blocked. The tube eventually divides and the stumps heal closed. Since the Mark 3 version of the clip was introduced, over 5700 women in several countries have been sterilized. The first 540 British women who were followed-up for five to 17 months experienced one method failure (ectopic) and tow operator failures, to total failure rate of 5.5/1000. Clip-related complications were minimal and long-term sequelae were comparable to tubal ligation. The clip causes minimal destruction but still seems effective for tubal occlusion and it can accommodate thick tubes.