Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Eye pressure treatment in a western screech owl with acute ocular
By Jayson, Stephanie et al.·Published in Journal of avian medicine and surgery·2014·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Medical management of acute ocular hypertension in a western screech owl (Megascops kennicottii).
Plain-English summary
A young western screech owl was brought in with a swollen left eye and high pressure inside the eye, which can cause serious vision problems. After giving the owl a medication called mannitol to lower the pressure, the vet also prescribed eye drops and oral medication for a few days. The treatment worked well, and the owl's eye pressure returned to normal within a week. After some rehabilitation, the owl was released back into the wild, showing that the treatment was successful.
People also search for: owl eye problems · high eye pressure in birds · treatment for owl eye injury
Abstract
A wild young adult western screech owl (Megascops kennicottii) of unknown sex was presented for evaluation of an abnormal left eye (OS). Ophthalmic examination OS revealed raised intraocular pressure (37 mm Hg; reference interval 7-16 mm Hg), mydriasis, conjunctival and episcleral hyperemia, shallow anterior chamber due to anterior displacement of the lens and iris, rubeosis iridis, and engorgement of the pecten. The intraocular pressure in the right eye (OD) was 11 mm Hg. Multifocal pale, variably translucent, curvilinear to vermiform opacities were observed in the medial and ventral peripheral regions of the retina OD, consistent with focal retinitis. Mannitol (0.46 g/kg IV) was administered over 10 minutes. Forty minutes later, the intraocular pressure was 27 mm Hg OS and 13 mm Hg OD. Dorzolamide (one drop OS q12h), diclofenac (one drop OU q8-12h), and meloxicam (0.5 mg/kg PO q24h) were administered for 3 days. The intraocular pressure OS was within normal limits 1 day (11 mm Hg), 7 days (13 mm Hg), and 4 weeks (14 mm Hg) after this treatment. Complications arising during hospitalization and rehabilitation included superficial corneal ulceration of both eyes presumed secondary to trauma on being caught and superficial damage to a talon. The owl was released after a period of rehabilitation. Characteristic presenting signs as well as response to therapy suggest aqueous misdirection was the cause of ocular hypertension in this owl. To our knowledge, this is the first report of suspected aqueous misdirection and its medical management in a raptor.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24881152/