Ophthalmic variables in rehabilitated juvenile Kemp’s ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii)

North Grafton – mechentel news – To determine central corneal thickness (total corneal thickness [TCT], epithelial thickness [ET], and stromal thickness [ST]), anterior chamber depth (ACD), and intraocular pressure (IOP) in Kemp’s ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii), 25 healthy rehabilitated juvenile Kemp’s ridley sea turtles were enrolled in the prospective cross-sectional study. Body weight and straight-line standard carapace length (SCL) were recorded. All turtles underwent a complete anterior segment ophthalmic examination. Central TCT, ET, ST, and ACD were determined by use of a spectral-domain optical coherence tomography device. Intraocular pressure was determined with a rebound tonometer; the horse setting was used to measure IOP in all 25 turtles, and the undefined setting was also used to measure IOP in 20 turtles. For each variable, 3 measurements were obtained bilaterally. The mean was calculated for each eye and used for analysis purposes. The mean ± SD body weight and SCL were 3.85 ± 1.05 kg (8.47 ± 2.31 lb) and 29 ± 3 cm, respectively. The mean ± SD TCT, ET, ST, and ACD were 288 ± 23 μm, 100 ± 6 μm, 190 ± 19 μm, and 581 ± 128 μm, respectively. Mean ± SD IOP was 6.5 ± 1.0 mm Hg when measured with the horse setting and 3.8 ± 1.1 mm Hg when measured with the undefined setting.This Results provided preliminary reference ranges for objective assessment of ophthalmic variables in healthy juvenile Kemp’s ridley sea turtles.

Autors: Gornik KR, Pirie CG, Marrion RM, Wocial JN, Innis CJ. Correspondence: Dr. Pirie, Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA 01536. E-Mail: chris.pirie@tufts.edu. Study: Ophthalmic variables in rehabilitated juvenile Kemp’s ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys kempii). Source: J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2016 Mar 15;248(6):673-80. doi: 10.2460/javma.248.6.673. Web: http://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/abs/10.2460/javma.248.6.673.