Evaluation of intraocular pressure in eyes of clinically normal llamas and alpacas.

Objective—To estimate intraocular pressure (IOP) in eyes of healthy camelids, using applanation tonometry. Animals—The eyes of 34 camelids (16 llamas [Lama glama] and 18 alpacas [L pacos]) that did not have major abnormalities of the ocular surface or intraocular abnormalities. Procedure—Tonometry measurements were obtained from each eye 3 times during a 24-hour period. Each measurement was the mean of several corneal applanations obtained by use of an applanation tonometer. Data were analyzed, using an ANOVA for a repeated-measures design. Results—Mean (± SEM) IOP of llamas and alpacas was 13.10 ± 0.35 and 14.85 ± 0.45 mm Hg, respectively. Range of IOP was 7 to 18 mm Hg for llamas and 11 to 21 mm Hg for alpacas. Mean IOP of llamas was significantly less than the mean IOP of alpacas. Significant differences in IOP were not detected between the right and left eye of animals. Significant differences in IOP were not attributed to sex, age, or time of measurement within llamas or alpacas. Conclusions and Clin...