ABSTRACT
Initially the bird should be watched at a distance (flying, moving around the cage or room). If there are eye problems, the bird may have difficulty finding food or show reluctance to fly or move around. Position and mobility of globes should be assessed. The eyes of a normal bird are clear, symmetrical and centred in the socket. The normal conjunctiva is pale pink and moist. The iris colour should be noted. The colour is an indication of age or sex in many species of birds. Young Amazon parrots have brown irises that become red–orange as they age. Poxvirus (in mild cases) may cause a unilateral blepharitis with eyelid oedema, starting about 10–14 days after infection. It may also cause keratitis and, less commonly, anterior uveitis. Microphthalmia, a congenitally abnormally small eye, is rarely seen. In some cases the eye is structurally and functionally normal, but in other cases cataracts, retinal dysplasia, or retinal detachment result in complete blindness.
