Dolphin Quest Oahu’s Eye Research Featured in Ellex ‘Eye to Eye’ Newsletter
Dolphin Quest Oahu (DQO) trainers teamed with ophthalmic sonographer Cynthia Kendall, veterinarian Gregg Levine and board-certified veterinary ophthalmologist Maya Yamagata to capture high-resolution ultrasound images of a normal dolphin eye. They used special ultrasound equipment to make it easier to see corneal thickness, iris anatomy, lens anatomy and the retina. Many of the images collected are some of the first documented in the field.
Click here to read the Ellex newsletter and to see scans from this research.
Through positive reinforcement training, five DQO dolphins learned to voluntarily participate in the research project. Before the ultrasound sessions, trainers worked with each animal individually and gradually exposed him to the sensations he would experience during an ultrasound. By taking one-step at a time and rewarding the dolphin for a job well done, the dolphins quickly learned to be calm and relaxed.
Using a human retina scanning ophthalmic ultrasound unit, Kendall performed both open and closed eye examinations. During the open eye exam, the team applied topical anesthesia and an artificial tear gel, which served as a coupling medium and provided corneal protection. A probe covered with a latex sheath then touched and scanned the eye. The dolphins rapidly progressed to keeping their eyes open for 20 to 30 seconds while the probe recorded images.
Last year DQO trained its animals to participate in eye exams and took the first well-documented photographs of a dolphin’s healthy retina using a voluntary, drug free approach. The training for the prior eye research may have contributed to the success of this ultrasound project.
Want to learn more about research projects conducted at Dolphin Quest Oahu, sign up for the Dolphin Adventure program, which features the training we do for research projects and for the preventive health care of our dolphins.
