Anterior corneal radius of curvature and corneal astigmatism in the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius)

There have been no previous reports on the radius of curvature of the anterior corneal surface of the one-humped camel. This information is required to draw up a schematic eye for the camel. Such a model eye would be useful in studying the visual capability of this important desert animal, and may be of value in comparative studies of other eyes. In this study we determined the average radius of curvature of the anterior cornea in 25 enucleated eyes of the one-humped camel by computerized videokeratoscopy. We also determined the average corneal astigmatism and types of corneal astigmatism. The average radius of curvature was 12.38 +/- 0.83 and the average corneal power 27.37 D +/- 1.90. The average corneal astigmatism was 0.76 +/- 0.56. Most of the eyes (n = 19, 76%) were astigmatic. Seven eyes had with-the-rule astigmatism, seven other eyes had against-the-rule astigmatism while five had oblique corneal astigmatism. The average corneal astigmatism of the camel is similar to that of most humans and the cat. Med Sci Res 27:501-503 (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.