Morphologic changes induced by photoperiod in eyes of turkey poults

Large White commercial tom poults were grown from 1 day to 8 weeks of age in the following light treatments: (i) continuous incandescent light (24LL); (ii) 23 hours of incandescent light and 1 hour of darkness/day (23L:1D); (iii) 12 hours of incandescent light and 12 hours of darkness/day (12L:12D); or (iv) natural decreasing day lengths (natural). At 8 weeks of age, significant (P less than 0.05) morphologic changes in eyes occurred. Poults exposed to the 24LL or 23L:1D had heavier eyes than did poults exposed to the 12L:12D or natural day length. In addition, the eye size (anterior to posterior diameter and horizontal width) exposed to the 24LL treatment was greater than those exposed to 23L:1D, 12L:12D, or natural day length. Cornea heights of poults exposed to 24LL or 23L:1D were smaller than cornea heights of those exposed to 12L:12D or natural day length. Marked differences did not occur in intraocular pressure among treatments.