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The parameters of the porcine eyeball

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Abstract

Background

The eye of the domestic pig (Sus scrofa domestica) is an ex vivo animal model often used in vision sciences research (retina studies, glaucoma, cataracts, etc.). However, only a few papers have compiled pig eye anatomical descriptions. The purpose of this paper is to describe pig and human eye anatomical parameters to help investigators in their choice of animal model depending on their study objective.

Methods

A wide search of current medical literature was performed (English language) using PubMed. Anteroposterior axial length and corneal radius, astigmatism, vertical and horizontal diameter, and pachymetry (slit-scan and ultrasound) were measured in five enucleated pig eyes of animals 6 to 8 months old.

Results

Horizontal corneal diameter was 14.31 ± 0.25 mm (CI 95% 14.03 mm–14.59 mm), vertical diameter was 12.00 ± 0 mm, anteroposterior length was 23.9 ± 0.08 mm (CI 95% 23.01 mm–29.99 mm), central corneal ultrasound pachymetry was 877.6 ± 13.58 μm (CI 95% 865.70 μm–889.50 μm) and slit-scan pachymetry was 906.2 ± 15.30 μm (CI 95% 892.78 μm–919.61 μm). Automatic keratometry (main meridians) was 41.19 ± 1.76D and 38.83 ± 2.89D (CI 95% 40.53D–41.81D and 37.76D–39.89D respectively) with an astigmatism of 2.36 ± 1.70D (CI 95% 1.72D–3.00D), and manual keratometry was 41.05 ± 0.54D and 39.30 ± 1.15D (CI 95% 40.57D–41.52D and 38.29D–40.31D respectively) with an astigmatism of 1.75 ± 1.31D (CI 95% 0.60D–2.90D).

Conclusion

This paper describes the anatomy of the pig eyeball for easy use and interpretation by researchers who are considering their choice of animal model in vision sciences research.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank all slaughterhouse staff at Justino Gutiérrez SL (Laguna de Duero, Valladolid, Spain) for the cooperation in providing samples used in this work. I. Fernandez-Bueno is supported by the “Junta de Castilla y Leon”.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. IOBA-Eye Institute and CIBER-BBN, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain

    Irene Sanchez

  2. IOBA-Eye Institute and Department of Physics TAO – School of Optometry, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain

    Raul Martin

  3. IOBA-Eye Institute, Ophthalmologist, Glaucoma Unit, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain

    Fernando Ussa

  4. IOBA-Eye Institute, University of Valladolid, Paseo de Belén nº 17 Campus Miguel Delibes, 47011, Valladolid, Spain

    Ivan Fernandez-Bueno

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  1. Irene Sanchez
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  2. Raul Martin
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  3. Fernando Ussa
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  4. Ivan Fernandez-Bueno
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Correspondence to Irene Sanchez.

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The authors have no proprietary, financial or commercial interest in any material or method mentioned in this study.

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Sanchez, I., Martin, R., Ussa, F. et al. The parameters of the porcine eyeball. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 249, 475–482 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-011-1617-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-011-1617-9

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