A woman in Shenyang, China, recently sparked online debate after spending 700 yuan (around MYR450) on a contact lens for her dog. Many netizens criticized her, assuming it was for cosmetic purposes. However, the owner, surnamed Li, clarified that the lens was medical and intended to treat her dog’s eye condition—not for appearance.
According to Chinese media, Li’s 11-year-old dog had been suffering from a chronic indolent corneal ulcer, which had become severe enough to prevent the dog from opening its eyes properly. After undergoing minimally invasive surgery, the dog wore a medical “bandage contact lens” to protect the cornea from external irritants. The treatment also required eye drops six times a day.
Veterinary sources reported that after successfully treating the dog’s other eye with the same method, Li’s dog recently underwent treatment for the second eye. After seven days wearing the bandage lens, the corneal ulcer had visibly shrunk, and the dog could open its eyes on its own, showing a recovery progress in line with expectations.
Veterinarians explained that medical bandage lenses have been used in pet ophthalmology for over five years, especially for older or weaker animals, or cases where anesthesia carries high risk. The lenses act as a physical protective layer, allowing the cornea to heal in a closed, protected environment.
Li’s dog is now resting at home, and she has been updating social media to show that her pet has regained its normal energy and vitality. The news sparked positive reactions online, with netizens commenting things like:
- “This isn’t just a dog, it’s their child.”
- “Such a caring owner, ensuring professional treatment for the dog’s eye condition.”
- “Someone this loving must also care deeply for their family and elders.”
Using contact lenses for therapeutic purposes in pets is not uncommon. Veterinary hospitals note that these lenses don’t correct vision but protect the cornea, accelerate healing from inflammation, reduce pain, and prevent further damage—similar to bandaging a wound. The lenses help the corneal epithelium grow over the ulcer, which is particularly effective for stubborn, non-healing corneal ulcers. As veterinarians point out, this approach has largely replaced the old method of relying solely on frequent eye drops and waiting for the eye to heal naturally.
