Prevalence of ocular disease in a colony of tamarins and marmosets.

: In a large tamarin and marmoset experimental colony, 526 animals were examined by biomicroscopy and ophthalmoscopy for the presence of ocular disease. In 109 animals, there were 147 abnormalities involving the eyelids, cornea, iris, lens, retina or optic nerve. Most abnormalities were unimportant in terms of ocular function, but a few did cause loss of vision and included diffuse, progressive retinal atrophy and a severely traumatized globe. The survey indicated that while usually minor, ocular disease in the tamarin and marmoset was widespread.