Vikki the Vet Sees Chloe the Chameleon

Chameleons are amazing creatures.

They’re, literally, little lizards.

Little lizards that can change colours.

Sometimes chameleons change colours because they are too hot or because they are too cold.

Sometimes chameleons change colours to communicate with other chameleons.

And some chameleons might even be able to change colours to more closely match their environment.

This is called camouflaging.

Most chameleons have a degree of natural camouflage.

That is, their natural colours help them to blend into their environment.

And blending in to their environment provides them with a degree of protection.

But not Panther Chameleons.

Panther Chameleons are the opposite.

They seriously stand out.

Panther Chameleons are popular pets.

Chloe the Chameleon is George’s pet.

One day George had to take his pet to the vet.

He chose Vikki the Vet.

Chloe, the colourful chameleon, was quite the sight with a patch on her eye.

“What appears to be the problem?” Vikki the Vet asked George.

“I think my chameleon Chloe has a sty in her eye,” answered George.

It isn’t easy examining a chameleon’s eyes.

A chameleon can operate each of its eyes independently.

And a chameleon can rotate each of those eyes nearly 180 degrees.

2 eyes x 180° = 360°.

This means that they can see in almost every direction.

Chloe was busy checking her chart with one eye.

While her other eye was watching the wall.

“Chloe! Look at me. Both eyes, please!” cajoled Vikki the Vet.

“This could get tricky,” continued Vikki the Vet.

“At first sight, it may seem that Chloe the Chameleon has a sty in her eye.

But no, George, there is no sty on her eye.”

“But her eye is so red,” replied George.

“Perhaps she has pink-eye!”

“Her eye is irritated … but no … Chloe does not have conjunctivitis.”

 

by the by:

Conjunctivitis is the medical term for pink-eye.

 

“How about cataracts or even a cut cornea?”

“Boy—George—you sure are enthusiastic!” answered Vikki the Vet.

“If you have a cataract, you have a cloud in your eye.”

“Your chameleon does not have a cloud in her eye.”

“So no. Chloe doesn’t have a cataract.”

“And as to a cut cornea, let’s have a look,” continued Vikki the Vet.

“What do we have here?” said Vikki the Vet as she removed a fleck from Chloe’s eye.

“There was a fleck of dry paint in Chloe’s eye.

It’s the fleck of paint that’s been irritating her eye.”

“Oh! Now I know,” said George.

“Last night, I painted a colour by numbers while Chloe watched.”

“Perhaps I accidentally flicked that fleck into Chloe’s eye.”

“I’m sorry, Chloe,” George said to his pet chameleon.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“Accidents sometimes happen; that is why they are called accidents,” said Vikki the Vet.

“It’s how you respond to those accidents that is important.”

“Chloe isn’t going to go blind in that eye. Is she?” asked a concerned George.

“No, George. You did the right thing.

You brought Chloe in promptly, and we were able to solve the problem before any long-term damage was done.”

“It’s a miracle,” George said as he clasped his hands in relief.

“Good karma on you,” answered Vikki the Vet with a wink.