Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Great Horned owl with cataracts after flying into power line
By Dees, D Dustin & MacLaren, Nicole E·Published in Veterinary ophthalmology·2013·Eye Care for Animals, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Presumptive electric cataracts in a Great Horned owl (Bubo virginianus).
- Species:
- bird
Plain-English summary
A juvenile female Great Horned owl was rescued after flying into a high-voltage power line, suffering from burn wounds and signs of ataxia (difficulty coordinating movements) and apparent blindness. Five days later, a vet found she had cataracts in both eyes but no inflammation. Initially, no eye medications were given. At a follow-up eight weeks later, the cataracts had improved, and the owl's vision was better. This case highlights how birds can develop cataracts from electrocution, but recovery is possible.
People also search for: Great Horned owl cataracts · owl eye problems · electrocution in birds · bird vision recovery
Abstract
This case report describes suspected electrocution in a juvenile female Great Horned owl (Bubo virginianus) with subsequent bilateral cataract formation. The bird flew into a high-voltage power line and was immediately rescued. Burn wounds of the head and ataxia with apparent blindness were noted. Initial ophthalmic examination 5 days after the incident revealed bilaterally symmetrical anterior subcapsular vacuolar cataracts with absence of intraocular inflammation and a predominantly clear view to the normal appearing fundus. The bird appeared to be nonvisual. No ophthalmic medications were prescribed at initial examination. Subsequent recheck examination at 8 weeks revealed moderate resolution of the cataracts and improved vision. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first published report of suspected electric cataracts in an avian species.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22432797/