![]() More common, though, is bedding material collecting in the eyes. I’ve seen a few cases of grass awns getting stuck in the conjunctival tissue under the eyelids of lizards or tortoises housed outdoors. ![]() Reptile Eye TraumaĪ grass awn (foxtail) in the eye of a desert tortoise. Some species, such as ball pythons, may have a normal dent or wrinkle on their spectacles-do not mistake this as a retained spectacle. Again, if you don’t feel comfortable poking around your lizards eyes, then you probably shouldn’t be doing it. ![]() I use saline to flush the eyes, a pair of very tiny forceps to help remove the shed and big magnifying loupes to see what I’m doing. Shed collecting along the inside of the lids is a common problem for leopard geckos and chameleons. I’ve seen numerous cases of permanent damage with over-aggressive, but well-meaning, individuals ripping off spectacles. If it does not come off easily-STOP! You may do more harm than good if you continue. Some people like to use moistened cotton swabs, others use a little piece of cellophane tape. Be gentle when removing a retained shed on the spectacle. The longer you wait, the harder it can be to remove. If this occurs, try to gently remove the retained shed as soon as it is noticed. But other causes, such as wound on the lids or snake mites collecting along the spectacle margin, may prevent proper shedding. The primary cause for retained shed is husbandry problems, most often inadequate humidity. The lens behind the pupil focuses the light onto the retina.ĭamage to a python’s spectacle, from an aggressive attempt by the owner to remove a retained shed. The eastern box turtle shows sexual dimorphism with the iris color -males tends to have red irises while females have brown. In bright light, when the pupil would be only a thin slit, the small holes create multiple tiny openings, allowing better vision than the slit alone would afford. Some nocturnal species of geckos have tiny indentations along the pupil margin. Species with round pupils tend to be active during the day while those with slit pupils tend to be active at night. The shape of the pupil can give a clue to the diurnal or nocturnal activity patterns in a reptile. Some species have round pupils, others elliptical openings. By opening and closing, it allows light through the hole called the pupil onto the light receptors or retina on the back surface of the eye. The iris is the colored portion inside the eye. The clear surface of the globe is called the cornea. The conjunctiva is the tissue lining the inner lids to the sclera or eyeballs itself. Look closely and you will see the eyes moving freely underneath the clear spectacle. ![]() Many think that a snake’s eyes are always open. Most reptiles with movable eyelids also have a third eyelid underneath the upper and lower lids.Īll snakes and some lizards have a fused, immobile lid covering the eyes, called a spectacle. Some species have very thin lids, with few scales, allowing some vision even when the eyes are closed. For most lizards, turtles and tortoises, it is the lower lid that is moved more, while the upper lid is more mobile in crocodiles and alligators. Crushed walnut shell bedding caused severe damage to the eyes of this bearded dragon.Īll reptiles have eyelids.
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