Symblepharon with aberrant protrusion of the nictitating membrane in the snowy owl ( Nyctea scandiaca)

Abstract Two young snowy owl chicks were presented with aberrant protrusion of the nictitating membranes. This was caused by conjunctival adhesions causing symblepharon secondary to a previous septicemia episode. While symblepharon has been noted in birds before, this unusual presentation of the nic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Veterinary Ophthalmology
Main Authors: Williams, David L., Flach, Edmund
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2003
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1463-5224.2003.00250.x
https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1046%2Fj.1463-5224.2003.00250.x
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1046/j.1463-5224.2003.00250.x
Description
Summary:Abstract Two young snowy owl chicks were presented with aberrant protrusion of the nictitating membranes. This was caused by conjunctival adhesions causing symblepharon secondary to a previous septicemia episode. While symblepharon has been noted in birds before, this unusual presentation of the nictitating membrane has not been reported. Surgical intervention ameliorated the clinical signs, allowing vision in one bird by removal of the nictitating membranes, a technique which appeared to have no deleterious effects on the ocular surface.