Retinal and lenticular lesions in vitamin-C-deficient juvenile red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus (L.)

Abstract Ocular pathologic findings in eyes of ascorbic acid-deficient juvenile red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus (L.), are described. Abnormalities in the most severely affected eyes included: reduced globe size and lack of normal globe rigidity; vascular congestion and intraocular haemorrhage; lenticular lesions which included disorganization of posterior cortex, vacuolation of posterior subcapsular cortex and posterior migration of lens epithelium; and severe central retinal degeneration. The authors suspect that retinal degeneration was related to phototoxic injury, to which these fish had increased susceptibility as a result of ascorbic acid deficiency. The cause for lenticular lesions was undetermined, but may have been related directly to ascorbic acid deficiency, indirectly to retinal degeneration, or both.