Rehabilitating wild birds of prey following ocular trauma - should foveal assessment include spectral-domain optical coherence tomography?

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The fovea is an area of increased cone density in the avian retina and provides a high level of visual acuity. Damage to the fovea may negatively impact survival of birds of prey in the wild. The goal of this prospective, descriptive study was to determine whether spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) imaging results influenced the prognosis for vision prior to release in wild birds of prey following ocular trauma. The birds were manually restrained and underwent a complete ophthalmic examination including SD-OCT imaging. Diagnosis, prognosis for vision, and treatment recommendations were decided twice – immediately following clinical examination, and again following SD-OCT examination. Changes to prognosis and treatment recommendations following SD-OCT examination were noted. RESULTS: Thirty-seven diurnal and nocturnal wild birds of prey were evaluated. SD-OCT confirmed the prognosis for vision as determined by clinical examination in the majority of cases (22/37), and offered superior lesion evaluation in cases with retinal pathology. In 12/37 birds SD-OCT examination altered the prognosis, leading to a change in treatment recommendation for one bird. CONCLUSIONS: SD-OCT examination provided a detailed, and often superior assessment of foveal anatomy and pathology in awake birds of prey, versus a standard ophthalmic examination with fundus photography alone. Combining ophthalmic examination and SD-OCT findings may allow clinicians to make better informed decisions regarding rehabilitation, and subsequent release of traumatized wild birds of prey, especially if foveal damage is suspected. SD-OCT examination does not seem indicated for birds without ocular abnormalities on ophthalmic examination and fundus photograph evaluation. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12917-025-05245-2.