Der Ophthalmologe : Zeitschrift der Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft·2012
Area of Science:
Comparative physiology
Ophthalmology
Avian biology
Background:
Accommodation is crucial for vision, allowing the eye to focus on objects at varying distances.
The mechanisms of accommodation differ across species, with the cornea and lens playing key roles.
Understanding avian accommodation is vital for comprehending visual adaptations in birds.
Purpose of the Study:
To investigate the contribution of corneal radius of curvature changes to accommodation in birds.
To quantify the role of the cornea in natural accommodation in pigeons and chicks.
To explore the relationship between corneal shape and accommodative mechanisms in avian species.
Main Methods:
Infrared photoretinoscopy was used to measure natural accommodation.
Infrared photokeratometry was employed to assess changes in corneal radius of curvature.
Measurements were conducted on adult pigeons and chicks.
Main Results:
Corneal radius of curvature changes significantly contribute to accommodation in both chick and pigeon.
In adult pigeons, the cornea accounts for up to approximately 9 diopters of accommodation.
Corneal accommodation in chickens (approx. 8 D) is part of a larger accommodative range (15-17 D), with aspherical corneal properties potentially affecting measurements.
Conclusions:
Corneal radius of curvature changes are a primary mechanism for accommodation in pigeons.
In chickens, corneal accommodation is significant but works in conjunction with other mechanisms.
The aspherical nature of the chicken cornea can influence the accuracy of photokeratometry measurements.