The effect of intraocular ablation of the pecten oculi of the chicken.

The pecten oculi of 20 chickens was unilaterally ablated by intraocular electrocautery. Although the pecten was totally destroyed in 13 of the 20 birds, the retina remained histologically normal. All of the birds sustaining total lesion of the pecten retained the pupillary reflex and could peck up food and avoid objects when the control eye was covered. The intraocular pH of 5 operated birds was measured in vivo and averaged 7.35 (range 7.40 to 7.33) in operated eyes and 7.56 (range 7.65 to 7.50) in control eyes. It is suggested that the function of the pecten is not primarily nutritive and may instead be related to intraocular pH regulation.