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Lessons from Animals in Extreme Environments

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Ophthalmology in Extreme Environments

Part of the book series: Essentials in Ophthalmology ((ESSENTIALS))

Abstract

Many animals perform highly refined visual tasks under a surprisingly diverse array of conditions. For some this requires contending with the dramatic refractive changes experienced when transitioning between vision in air and while under water. Others must identify and capture prey in near darkness. Arctic animals must find food while also avoiding predators and do so under conditions ranging from continuous summer daylight to continuous winter darkness. And still others visually spot and track prey while moving at speeds that rival Formula 1 race cars. These astonishing visual feats are accomplished with ocular systems that are not too far different than our own; however the adaptations they possess change ordinary into the extraordinary.

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Compliance with Ethical Requirements

Michael Mines and Christopher Ochieng declare we have no conflict of interest. No human or animal studies were carried out by the authors for this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Madigan Army Medical Center, Ophthalmology Service, Tacoma, WA, USA

    Michael J. Mines MD, DVM & Christopher O. Ochieng MD

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  1. Michael J. Mines MD, DVM
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  2. Christopher O. Ochieng MD
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Correspondence to Michael J. Mines MD, DVM .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Ophthalmology, Neurology, and Neurosurgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA

    Prem S. Subramanian

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Mines, M.J., Ochieng, C.O. (2017). Lessons from Animals in Extreme Environments. In: Subramanian, P. (eds) Ophthalmology in Extreme Environments. Essentials in Ophthalmology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57600-8_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57600-8_6

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-57599-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-57600-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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