Intraocular pressure measured by rebound tonometry in seven raptor species

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the applicability of Rebound tonometer for the intraocular pressure measurement and to determine the correlation between intraocular pressure reference values and body weight in different raptor species.In the present study, intraocular pressure of 66 Long-legged buzzard (132 eyes), 20 Eurasian sparrowhawk (40 eyes), 13 Eurasian eagle-owl (26 eyes), 6 Golden eagles (12 eyes), 6 Common kestrels (12 eyes), 4 Peregrine falcon (8 eyes), 2 Griffon vulture (4 eyes), which referred to Erciyes University, Faculty of Veterinary Med-icine, Department of Surgery Clinic were evaluated. In the ophthalmologic examination there was no lesion detected related to eyes. The mean body weight raptors was 1.10±0.23 kg in Long-legged buzzard, 0.23±0.06 kg in Eurasian sparrow hawk, 0.27±0.10 in Eurasian eagle-owl, 3.30±0.80 kg in Golden eagles, 0,18±0.04 kg in Common kestrels, 0,64±0,28 kg in Peregrine falcon and 2.28±0.43 kg in Griffon vulture. Rebound tonometer was used for measurement of intraocular pressure. Mean intraocular pressure of right and left eyes were in Long-legged buzzard 25.87±0.62-26.61±0.71, Eurasian sparrow hawk 11.90±0.40-12.05±0.41, Eurasian eagle-owl 12.00±0.63-12.61±0.57, Golden ea-gles 29.00±2.89-30.33±2.87, Common kestrels 11.75±0.17-10.83±0.47, Peregrine falcon 14.75±1.10-14.25±0.85 and Griffon vulture 15.00±1.00-14.50±0.50. As a result of the study, Rebound tonometer is a reliable method for measuring intraocular pressure in small eyes and minimizes stress, well tolerated by raptors in intraocular pressure measurements. While there was a positive correlation detected between body weight and IOP values among the species, no correlation was observed between body weight and IOP values within the same species. The intraocular pressure values obtained in this study will help veterinary ophthalmologists and wild animal veterinarians to evaluate changes intraocular pres-sure in raptor and contribute to the literature.