TY - JOUR
T1 - Ophthalmic examination of the captive western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)
AU - Liang, David
AU - Alvarado, Thomas P.
AU - Oral, Deniz
AU - Vargas, Jose M.
AU - Denena, Melissa M.
AU - McCulley, James P
PY - 2005/9
Y1 - 2005/9
N2 - This study examined the captive western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) eye as compared and contrasted with the human eye. Bilateral ophthalmic examinations of western lowland gorillas (n = 5) while under general anesthesia were performed opportunistically, including slit-lamp biomicroscopy, dilated fundus examination, cycloplegic retinoscopy, Schiotz tonometry, corneal diameter and thickness measurements, A-scan and B-scan ultrasonography, keratometry, and cultures of the eyelid margins and bulbar conjunctiva. Mean spherical equivalent refractive error by cycloplegic retinoscopy was +1.20 ± 0.59 diopters. Mean intraocular pressure by Schiotz tonometry was 12.0 ± 4.3 mm Hg. Mean optic nerve head cup to disc ratio was 0.42 ± 0.11. Mean horizontal corneal diameter was 13.4 ± 0.8 mm, and mean vertical cornea diameter was 12.7 ± 0.8 mm. Mean central corneal thickness by ultrasound pachymetry was 489 ± 52 μm. Mean axial length of the eye by A-scan was 22.75 ± 0.71 mm. Mean lens thickness by A-scan was 4.23 ± 0.34 mm. Mean anterior chamber depth by A-scan was 4.00 ± 0.26 mm. Mean keratometry reading was 44.38 ± 1.64 diopters. Eyelid margin and bulbar conjunctival cultures isolated Candida sp. (n = 5), Staphylococcus aureus (n = 4), Staphylococcus epidermidis (n = 3), Staphylococcus saccharolyticus (n = 3), and Micrococcus sp. (n = 3). This study suggests important similarities between western lowland gorilla and human eyes. These similarities may allow diagnostics, techniques, and equipment for human eye surgery, such as those used for cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation, to be successfully utilized for gorillas.
AB - This study examined the captive western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) eye as compared and contrasted with the human eye. Bilateral ophthalmic examinations of western lowland gorillas (n = 5) while under general anesthesia were performed opportunistically, including slit-lamp biomicroscopy, dilated fundus examination, cycloplegic retinoscopy, Schiotz tonometry, corneal diameter and thickness measurements, A-scan and B-scan ultrasonography, keratometry, and cultures of the eyelid margins and bulbar conjunctiva. Mean spherical equivalent refractive error by cycloplegic retinoscopy was +1.20 ± 0.59 diopters. Mean intraocular pressure by Schiotz tonometry was 12.0 ± 4.3 mm Hg. Mean optic nerve head cup to disc ratio was 0.42 ± 0.11. Mean horizontal corneal diameter was 13.4 ± 0.8 mm, and mean vertical cornea diameter was 12.7 ± 0.8 mm. Mean central corneal thickness by ultrasound pachymetry was 489 ± 52 μm. Mean axial length of the eye by A-scan was 22.75 ± 0.71 mm. Mean lens thickness by A-scan was 4.23 ± 0.34 mm. Mean anterior chamber depth by A-scan was 4.00 ± 0.26 mm. Mean keratometry reading was 44.38 ± 1.64 diopters. Eyelid margin and bulbar conjunctival cultures isolated Candida sp. (n = 5), Staphylococcus aureus (n = 4), Staphylococcus epidermidis (n = 3), Staphylococcus saccharolyticus (n = 3), and Micrococcus sp. (n = 3). This study suggests important similarities between western lowland gorilla and human eyes. These similarities may allow diagnostics, techniques, and equipment for human eye surgery, such as those used for cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation, to be successfully utilized for gorillas.
KW - Comparative anatomy
KW - Eyes
KW - Gorilla
KW - Ophthalmic examination
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=30444448228&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=30444448228&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1638/03-121.1
DO - 10.1638/03-121.1
M3 - Article
C2 - 17312760
AN - SCOPUS:30444448228
SN - 1042-7260
VL - 36
SP - 430
EP - 433
JO - Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
JF - Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine
IS - 3
ER -