The Pigeon as a Subject in Studies of Laser-Induced Retinal Damage: Histological Studies
Abstract
The natural history of laser-induced retinal lesions in the pigeon eye is reported, and the pigeon is proposed as a resonable animal model for studies of laser-induced damage in primate eyes. Energy levels of approximately seven times the ED50 for an ophthalmoscopically observable retinal lesion were placed with a multiwavelength argon laser. Each lesion was induced by a one- second exposure at a power of 48 mW incident on the cornea. The bulk of the damage occurred in the photoreceptor outer segment and retinal pigment epithelium layers. Over the course of one week, edema and mild disorganization spread into the inner parts of the retina; at 1 day the inner nerve fiber layer was edematous; at 8 days it was homogeneous in the region immediately above the area of maximum damage. The presence of oil droplets in the pigeon retina did not appear to alter the response of the eye to the damaging effects of the laser. The present study was performed to provide baseline data so that pigeons may be more readily used in the future.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1989
- Accession Number
- ADA223888
Entities
People
- Daniel G. Odom
- David J. Lund
- Edwin S. Beatrice
- Helen Ford
Organizations
- Letterman Army Hospital