Ultrasonographic Biometry of the Eye in Healthy Adult Donkey

Sixty-two healthy adult donkeys were included in this study, giving a total of 124 eyes for examination. The weight of the donkeys was estimated and an ultrasonography of the eyes was performed using a curvilinear transducer. Ocular measurements were taken in a horizontal plane and included the following values: globe axial length (GAL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), vitreous body depth (VD), lens diameter (LDi), and lens depth (LDe). The mean and standard deviations for each measurement are reported in mm: GAL 34.22 ±2.05; ACD 3.01 ±0.58; VD 20.20 ±1.63; LDi 17.96 ±1.66 LDe 11.06 ±0.71. Gender was not a variability factor for ocular biometry in donkeys, while the weight was directly related to the ultrasonographic ocular values. Lens dimensions represented an exception and further investigation should be carried out to verify a possible correlation with age rather than weight. This is the first paper reporting reference data for ocular biometry in donkeys.