Lesions in the ocular posterior segment of raptors

Thirty-eight free-living raptors, including various hawks, owls, and an eagle, had lesions of the ocular posterior segment believed to be the result of trauma. Although lesions of the anterior ocular segment and of the rest of the body often were seen, the lesions of the posterior segment of the eye were disproportionately more severe and usually were not suspected by rehabilitation personnel. The tightly encased raptor eye, with its anteriorly placed scleral ossicles, may have rendered the eye more susceptible to contrecoup damage. In the birds that were treated, ocular lesions were resolved and some vision was restored.