Ocular ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) provides high resolution imaging of anterior segment of the eye. This survey aimed to evaluate the anterior segment structures in eyes of Ostrich.

Fourteen eyes from 7 ostrich (Struthio camelus), males or females with average age of 1 year and weighing around 100 kg were used. These eyes were obtained from a licensed Brazilian commercial company that breeds these animals for meat production. All procedures were performed in compliance with Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology statement on the use of animals in ophthalmic and vision research. Eyes with evidence of ocular disease were excluded. Within 1 h of death the eyes were enucleated. The postmortem exam time in all cases was less than 12 h. The eyes were immersed in methylcellulose and axial and peripheral images were taken with ultrasound biomicroscope (Model P 40 UBM, Paradigm Medical Industries Inc., EUA) with a mean resolution of 50 µm and a penetration depth of 5 mm. Parameters evaluated were corneal thickness and anterior chamber depth.

The mean corneal thickness was 663 µm in the central and 1050 µm in the peripheral region. Mean anterior chamber depth was higher than 5 mm. The analysis of anterior chamber angle was not possible due resistant and highly reflective anatomical structure in corneoscleral junction of the eyes that produce large attenuation.

Ultrasound biomicroscopy can be used to accurately evaluate of anterior ocular segment in avian. Similarity was observed when comparing Ostrich with domestic species eyes.

The authors would like to thank Pro-Fauna Commercial Ltd. for supplying eyes used in this research.

References

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