The Nictitating Membrane Protects the Eyes in Some Animals, by Elaine A. Powers, Author

I mentioned in a previous post that my pet green iguana, Stella, has high blood pressure, which is the cause of a swollen nictitating membrane on her right eye. What is a nictitating membrane? Do people have one?

Nictitating comes from the Latin word nictare, which means “to blink.” Blinking provides moisture to the eye and protects it from irritants.

That’s what the nictitating membrane, an inner eyelid, provides to the eyes of several kinds of animals, such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and even some mammals. Most mammals only have a vestigial remnant, but aquatic mammals such as polar bears, manatees, and beavers use their full membranes like goggles.

Nictitating membranes can be transparent or translucent, depending on the animal’s need. It moves easily across the eye from underneath the eye lids.

Stella receives her medication every morning inside a small slice of an orange, set  atop the lovely salad she receives for breakfast. Collard greens are a mainstay (though I mix that up with turnip greens, mustard greens or spinach), to which I add zucchini or yellow squash, deep red bell peppers, carrots, and bananas or grapes.