Can Rats With Red Eyes See?
WouterRats with red eyes are a rare breed and are generally classified as albinos. These animals have a genetic mutation that prevents them from producing pigments. The result is a shady appearance to their eyes and white fur. Rats with red eyes are able to see, but this is limited. Rats with red eyes can’t see much because light doesn’t focus on the retina in their eyes. Light bounces off the pigmented cornea and reflects off of the blood vessels in the retina. This is why brown-eyed rats can see more than their red-eyed counterparts.
Although rats don’t have 20/20 vision, their eyes can see a few feet away. If you want to test your rat’s vision, try using a finger test. Always use clean, soapy hands, and try moving your finger across the rat’s field of vision.
Red eyes in rats are not an indication of blindness, but of poor eye health. They can be the result of injuries, infection, or foreign objects that have entered their eye. If you see red eyes in your rat, you should see a veterinarian immediately. Remember: rats have an instinctive fear of humans, so they usually scurry away when you approach.
The retina has two types of cones, one of which has a photopigment that is sensitive to the ultraviolet, while the other type has a pigment sensitive to the middle wavelengths of the visible spectrum. The researchers studied both types of cone signals and analyzed how these signals changed over time. They also measured the retinal electroretinograms.
