Determination of the refractive state of normophakic dogs and cats and pseudophakic dogs by retinoscopy

In this study, 398 normophakic dogs, 85 normophakic cats, and 21 pseudophak ic dogs were examined by retinoscopy to assess optic refraction. According to her use normophakic dogs were grouped into home dogs, police dogs, hunti ng dogs, and sled dogs as well as according to her head shape into dolicho- , meso-, and brachycephalic dogs. On average, normophakic dogs and cats sho wed a slightly hyperopic (far-sighted) reflection. With increasing age, the average refraction is shifted towards myopia (short-sightedness) which is caused by sclerotic changes of the lens nucleus. Police dogs of this study without sclerotic changes of the lens nucleus are on average less hyperopic than home and hunting dogs. The examined brachyc ephalic dogs of this study are up to an ape of three years on average more far-sighted than dolicho- or mesocephalic dogs. The pseudophakic dogs of this study with a +41,5 D intraocular lens implant ed into the capsular sack are on average hyperopic and therefore undercorre cted. However, in a few dogs, myopia does occur.