INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE IN CAPTIVE AMERICAN FLAMINGOS (PHOENICOPTERUS RUBER) AS MEASURED BY REBOUND TONOMETRY

Abstract

Intraocular pressure was measured using rebound tonometry in American flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber), with the head in an upright standing position and when lowered in a feeding position, to establish a reference range. Mean +/- standard deviation (SD) (range) intraocular pressure for flamingos with the head in an upright position was right eye (OD)= 10.9 +/- 1.8 mm Hg (7-15 mm Hg) and left eye (OS) = 11.1 +/- 2.3 mm Hg (8-21 mm Hg). Median intraocular pressure for flamingos with the head in an upright position was OD and OS = 11 mm Hg. Mean intraocular pressure for flamingos with the head in a feeding position was OD = 14.3 +/- 2.5 mm Hg (10-22 mm Hg) and OS = 14.4 +/- 2.7 mm Hg (11-24 mm Hg), which were significantly higher. Median intraocular pressure for flamingos with the head in a feeding position was OD and OS = 14 mm Hg.

Measurement of tear production and intraocular pressure in ducks and geese

“…18 Mean IOP values using TonoVet were reported for black-footed penguins (between 25.05 to 30.41 mmHg, D and H setting), 19 20 and American flamingos (11 mmHg, P setting). 21 No differences were found in measured IOP between genders and breeds or left or right eye in ducks and geese. Similar results were obtained in Humboldt penguins, 7 black-footed penguins, 19 ostriches, 13 American flamingos, 21 Screech owls, 10 and other birds of prey.…”

“…21 No differences were found in measured IOP between genders and breeds or left or right eye in ducks and geese. Similar results were obtained in Humboldt penguins, 7 black-footed penguins, 19 ostriches, 13 American flamingos, 21 Screech owls, 10 and other birds of prey. 18 The effect of age was not assessed in this study because precise determination of age was not possible in our study population.…”

“…Measurements can be taken without topical anesthesia and results are provided within a few seconds. 18,21 Comparison of results from the Tono-Pen Vet to a manometric method in birds revealed good correlation of manometry and tonometry between 10 and 25 mmHg; below 10 mmHg, the TonoPen provided falsely high results, whereas in the pressure range above 25 mmHg, results were falsely lowered. 18 In avian species, rebound tonometry was found to overestimate or underestimate IOP in comparison with manometry or to overestimate IOP in comparison with applanation tonometry.…”

“…16 Intraocular pressure as measured by rebound tonometry has been reported in raptors, 18 20 and American flamingos (Phoenicopterusruber). 21 With the sizeable worldwide population of waterfowls, and lack of ophthalmologic knowledge about this species, it is important to establish reference values for routinely used tests including measurement of IOP and tear production. Ophthalmic examination is very important especially in those birds suffering from head and ocular trauma, because trauma is considered one of the most important causes of ophthalmic diseases in free birds.…”

INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE IN SOUTHERN ROCKHOPPER (EUDYPTES CHRYSOCOME) AND MACARONI PENGUINS (EUDYPTES CHRYSOLOPHUS): EVALUATION OF INFLUENCING FACTORS

“…For example, the common buzzard (Buteo buteo) has an average IOP of 26.9 6 7.0 mm Hg, whereas the American flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber) has an average IOP of 14.3 6 2.2 mm Hg. 35,40 A study that focused on rebound tonometry in raptor species found large variation in mean IOP between raptor families and variation of lesser magnitude between individual species in the same family, indicating that extrapolation among avian taxa and even between closely related species may be inappropriate. 40 The use of rebound tonometry has also been reported in some penguin species and has shown higher mean IOP in penguins compared with reported ranges for other avian species in the current literature (Table 1).…”