THE EFFECTS OF ANESTHESIA AND GENDER ON INTRAOCULAR-PRESSURE IN LIONS(PANTHERA-LEO)

Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured in a pride of 22 (11 males, II females) lions (Panthera lee) using a Schiotz tonometer. Two anesthet ic protocols were used in the study. Lions in group I (n = 14) were an esthetized using xylazine, atropine sulfate, and ketamine. Lions in gr oup II (n = 8) were anesthetized using ketamine and diazepam. Five seq uential readings were taken from each eye of every lion. There were no significant differences in IOP between the two anesthetic groups, bet ween left and right eyes, or over the five readings. The IOP was signi ficantly higher in males than in females, controlling for age and weig ht. The mean (+/-SD) tonometer reading in 22 eyes of 11 male lions was 2.9 (+/-0.5) mm; with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.6-4.5 mm. T he mean tonometer reading in 22 eyes of 11 female lions was 4.0 (+/-0. 7) mm, with a 95% CI of 1.8-6.3 mm. Using the 1955 Friedenwald human c alibration table, the estimated mean IOP in 22 eyes of 11 male lions w as 24.9 (+/-2.0) mm Hg, with a 95% CI of 20.4-29.4 mm Hg. The estimate d mean IOP in 22 eyes of 11 female lions was 20.9 (+/-2.4) mm Hg, with a 95% CI of 15.6-26.3 mm Hg.