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Twenty-five ball pythons, Python regius, were anesthetized, and 25% of the spectacle was resected. Groups of five snakes were humanely euthanized at different times from 24 h to 3 months post- operatively; the eyes were removed and fixed in either formalin or Bouin's solution, and they were sectioned through the wound for histologic evaluation. Engorgement of the spectacular vessels with edema adjacent to the wound edges was observed immediately post-operatively, with this post-surgical response subsiding over several weeks. An amorphous plaque of homogenous proteinaceous material completely filled the defect within 24 h and allowed re-establishment of the subspectacular space and normal wetting of the cornea! surface within 1 wk. A variable degree of inflammatory cell infiltration occurred immediately post- operatively and subsided over 30 days. The germinal epithelium of the spectacle migrated under the amorphous plaque by 3 wk post-operatively, re-establishing a germinal center for production of new spectacle material. Normal wound healing resulted in regeneration of normal spectacle morphology by 3 months post-operatively in all animals examined. Experimental animals did not seem to be at risk for a higher incidence of ocular or subspectacular infections as a direct result of partial spectaculectomy. We conclude that partial removal of the spectacle is a feasible procedure to gain access to the ocular compartment for treatment of ophthalmic disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]