Determination of reference values for intraocular pressure and Schirmer tear test in clinically normal ostriches (Struthio camelus)

The purpose of this study was to establish normal physiologic reference values for intraocular pressure (IOP) and Schirmer tear test (STT) results in clinically normal ostriches (Struthio camelus). Twenty ostriches of both sexes, 10 juveniles (1.5–2 yr of age) and 10 adults, were included in this study. Complete ophthalmic examination was performed prior to this investigation. STT was performed by inserting a standard sterile STT strip over the ventral lid margin into the ventral conjunctival sac for 60 sec. Following the STT, IOP was measured using applanation tonometry with the Tono-Pen VetTM tonometer after topical instillation of one drop of 0.5% proparacaine ophthalmic solution. The mean 6 SD and range of Tono-Pen readings of IOP for all birds was 18.8 6 3.5, with a range of 12–24. Mean IOP in juvenile ostriches was 19.7 6 3.6. Mean IOP in adult ostriches was 16.9 6 2.9. There was no statistically significant difference between young and adult birds (P¼0.07). The mean STT values in the present study were 16.3 6 2.5 mm/1 min when measurements from both eyes were averaged. Mean STT in juvenile and adult ostriches was 15.4 6 1.8 and 17.2 6 2.9 mm/1 min, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between young and adult birds (P ¼ 0.11). No statistically significant differences between genders were found for any of the results (P 0.41). In conclusion, this study provides normal reference range values for STT and IOP in clinically healthy ostriches.http://www.bioone.org/toc/zamd/41/4ab201

Results of the Schirmer tear test performed with open and closed eyes in clinically normal horses

Abstract Background The Schirmer tear test (STT) is widely used in both human and veterinary ophthalmology. Two types of STTs have been developed: STT I and SST II. The STT I measures the basal and reflex tear production and is the most widely used STT. However, several factors influence the STT results such as the person performing the test and the location of the strip placement within the conjunctival sac. The aim of this study was to measure the basal and reflex tear production (STT I) in clinically normal horses with open versus closed eyes. Results Forty clinically healthy horses without any ocular diseases were included. On day 1, the STT I was first performed on all the horses with the eyes open followed by an STT I with closed eyes performed 30 min later. On day 2, all horses had their eyes closed during the first STT and the eyes open during the second test performed 30 min later. The mean value of the STTs performed on open eye was significantly less than the STT performed on closed eye on both days of examination. Conclusion This study showed a small but statistically significant difference between STT values obtained with open versus closed eyes in clinically normal horses

Effects of premedication with oral gabapentin on intraocular pressure changes following tracheal intubation in clinically normal dogs

Abstract Background Gabapentin is an antiepileptic drug widely approved as an add-on therapy for epilepsy treatment in human and dogs. There is a clinical impression that gabapentin is a suitable drug which attenuates the IOP elevation associated with tracheal intubation in humans. The present study performed to determine the effects of oral gabapentin on intraocular pressure (IOP) changes following tracheal intubation in dogs. Results Twenty adult healthy dogs were randomly assigned to treatment (n = 10) and control (n = 10) groups. Dogs in the treatment group received oral gabapentin (50 mg/kg) 2 h before induction of anesthesia and dogs in the control group received oral gelatin capsule placebo at the same time. The dogs were anesthetized with propofol 6 mg/kg, and anesthesia was maintained with a constant infusion of 0.2 mg/kg/min of propofol for 20 min. IOP were measured immediately before induction and then repeated immediately after induction, as well as 5 min, 10 min and 15 min following tracheal intubation in both groups. IOP was significantly higher immediately after induction, and 5 min after tracheal intubation when compared with IOP reading before induction in the control group. There was no statistically significant change in IOPs immediately after induction, and 5 min after tracheal intubation in comparison to the values before induction in the treatment group. Conclusions Based on the findings of this study, preanesthetic oral administration of gabapentin significantly prevents an increase in the IOP associated with tracheal intubation in dogs anesthetized with propofol