Ophthalmologic Examination Of The Normal Eye Of The Koala
Lawrence W. Hirst,1 Anthony Stephen Brown,2 Roxanne Kempster,1 and Nedda Winney3
1 Division of Ophthalmology, 2nd floor, Lions Research Building, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba, Brisbane. Queensland 4102, Australia
2 Cl- Department of Lands and Environment, Division of Environment and Conservation,
Private Mail Bag, Apia, Western Samoa
3 C/- Bold Acres, O’Leary Avenue, Burpengary, Queensland 4505, Australia
ABSTRACT
The ophthalmic examination of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) was undertaken to describe the normal in vivo structure. Twenty-two of 28 koalas examined were found to have normal eyes. Slit-lamp examination revealed unusual lamellae in the cornea, and mean keratometric readings were 59.3 ± 3 diopters, corneal endothelial cell area of 381.4 µm2 ± with a standard deviation of 46.8 µm2. No particular features were seen which would explain the susceptibility of this animal to ocular infection by Chiamydia psittaci. Key words: Phascolarctos cinereus, slit-lamp examination, specular microscopy, intraocular pressure, keratometry, ophthalmic examination.