PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

M Howland

Publications and source records attributed to M Howland.

8 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Refractive state and accommodation in the eyes of free-swimming versus restrained juvenile lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris).

Optical measurements of the refractive state of the eyes of various shark species typically have depicted sharks as hyperopic (far-sighted) with little evidence of accommodation (i.e. the ability to change focus for visualizing objects at different distances from the eye). In this study, we used infrared video retinoscopy to measure the refractive state in juvenile lemon sharks (Negaprion brevirostris). This technique allows dynamic measurement of refractive state in free-swimming animals as they pass by an aquarium window. We found that unrestrained lemon sharks are focused emmetropically relative to a 1-m distant photorefractor for the lateral visual field. However, when restrained either right side up or upside down (the latter inducing tonic immobility), the sharks become increasingly hyperopic, an artifact also reported in some other vertebrates. In addition, unrestrained lemon sharks display small amplitude accommodative excursions. Thus, refractive state measurements on restrained sharks in general may not reflect the natural, resting state of the shark eye, but rather, an induced hyperopia and lack of accommodative function. Such an artifact may be present in other vertebrate species, underscoring the need to obtain measurements of refractive state in unrestrained animals.

Accommodation, Ocular↗
PubMed1997

Corneal curvatures and refractions of central American frogs.

We employed neutralizing infrared videophotorefraction and photokeratometry to examine the manifest refractions and corneal curvatures of 21 species of anurans (frogs and toads) in five families (Dendrobatidae, Bufonidae, Centrolenidae, Leptodactylidae, and Hylidae) resident in Central America. We found that all of the anurans exhibited hyperopic refractions in air, but that the observed hyperopia was not totally explained by the small eye artefact (Glickstein & Millodot, 1970). An allometric comparison of the corneal radii of these small anurans with those of a large number of other vertebrates, inferred from ocular axial lengths, showed that their corneal radii increased significantly more rapidly with increasing body size than that of other vertebrates generally (allometric slope constants: anurans: 0.270 +/- 0.032; other vertebrates: 0.151 +/- 0.004). Among the anurans examined, nocturnal Hylids had significantly larger eyes than diurnal Dendrobatid frogs and Bufonid toads.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Raptors lack lower-field myopia.

The presence of lower-field myopia (described in chickens, pigeons, quail and amphibians) allows these animals to keep the ground in focus while performing other visual tasks. A relationship has also been reported between the eye height and the degree of myopia observed. All of the animals reported in the literature to date are ground-foraging species. Using infrared neutralizing video retinoscopy and static photoretinoscopy we found a lower-field myopia to be absent in the barn owl (Tyto alba), Swainson's hawk (Buteo swainsonii), Cooper's hawk (Accipiter cooperi) and American kestrel (Falco sparverius). These findings suggest that the presence or absence of a lower-field myopia is a function of the visual ecology of the animal.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Focusing and accommodation in the brown kiwi (Apteryx australis).

Brown kiwis are an endangered species of nocturnal, flightless birds which are native to New Zealand. The resting focus of two specimens has previously been studied by retinoscopy in a zoo while the birds were restrained by their keeper (Sivak and Howland 1987). Those birds appeared to be hyperopic (farsighted) by 2-7 D. In this study, examination with infrared photorefraction of the focusing of two unrestrained, feeding birds showed that they could focus objects at infinity and objects in their immediate environment and that they had modest powers of accommodation. Measurements on two 6 month old kiwi chicks showed their corneal radius of curvature to be between 2.90 and 3.00 mm (117 D and 101 D in power).

Accommodation, Ocular↗
PubMed1987

Simple pointspread retinoscope suitable for vision screening.

A simple pointspread retinoscope and method of retinoscopy are described which use optical principles similar to those of photoretinoscopy or static photographic skiascopy. In this instrument the degree of defocus of an eye is estimated from the disappearance of the bright fundal reflex or "crescent" in the eye of the subject when the distance between the light source and the eye of the observer is increased systematically. The instrument is particularly suitable for large scale screening efforts because it is easy to use and can be constructed from inexpensive materials. The pointspread retinoscope was calibrated against an artificial eye of known defocus. Additionally, results from pointspread retinoscopy were compared against meridional photorefractive data from a sample of infants and young children, and a significant correlation was found to exist between measurements made by the two methods.

Child↗