Light Transmission of the Ocular Media in Birds and Mammals

Differences in the ultraviolet (UV) cutoff of ocular media between birds and mammals have been revealed by spectrophotometric measurements of the transmission of light wavelengths by the cornea, lens and vitreous body in chickens, crows, quails, rats, rabbits and pigs. The light transmission values of the cornea were shown to be above 50% for wavelengths of 330–800 nm in birds, 300–800 nm in rat and 310–800 nm in mammals except for rat. For the lens, the light transmission values were shown to be above 50% for wavelengths of 320–800 nm in birds and rat and 390–800 nm in mammals except for rat. Thus, among the ocular media, the cornea in birds and the lens in mammals except for rat may play a role as a major UV cutoff filter.