This tawny owl was found by the side of the road. What ocular lesions can you see and what might be their cause?
This owl has most probably sustained blunt trauma as a result of a vehicular impact (HBT the American’s would say – hit by truck!) with a persistent corneal ulcer resulting. Did you also see the widely dilated pupil? Looking at the posterior segment of the eye, the fluid shock wave that resulted through the eye has caused a contra-coup injury with retinal tearing and subsequent fibrosis, as seen here. That explains what in technical terms we could call the afferent pupillary defect (i.e. its blind!)