Editorial Type:
Article Category: Case Report
 | 
Online Publication Date: 01 Jan 2018

Unilateral Enucleation in a Panther Chameleon (Furcifer pardalis)

DVM,
DVM, and
BSc (VetSci) Hons, CertAPV (ZM), BVM&S, MRCVS, RCVS (Zoological Medicine)
Page Range: 72 – 75
DOI: 10.5818/17-11-134.1
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Abstract

A 1 yr old male panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis) was presented with a persistently closed right eye. The ophthalmological examination performed under general anesthesia demonstrated a large corneal ulcer encompassing 50% of the right cornea. Because of the extent of the corneal ulcer and the condition of the eye, the animal was diagnosed as being blind and suffering with severe pain. The authors recommended enucleation to eliminate these symptoms and to avoid any future complications. Two days after surgery, the panther chameleon started hunting on his own. One year after surgery, the panther chameleon is clinically healthy.

Keywords: Corneal ulcer; enucleation; Furcifer pardalis ; ophthalmology; panther chameleon; tarsorrhaphy
Copyright: © 2018 Association of Reptilian and Amphibian Veterinarians 2018
Figure 1.
Figure 1.

The right eye of the panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis) was closed, and the globe appeared retracted upon presentation.

Figure 2.
Figure 2.

Surgery on the panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis) started with a lateral canthotomy and was followed by transconjunctival enucleation.

Figure 3.
Figure 3.

The remaining parts of the panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis) eyelid were sutured together over the orbit in one layer.

Figure 4.
Figure 4.

The panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis) is fixating the object of interest, the wax moth, with his left eye.

Figure 5.
Figure 5.

The panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis) is hunting down a black soldier fly in his enclosure.

Figure 6.
Figure 6.

The panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis) is eating a cockroach after hunting and capturing it.

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