Effect of removal of lacrimal and third eyelid glands on Schirmer tear test results in cats.
Schirmer tear tests I and II values for 10 healthy cats were 16.2 +/- 3.8 mm/min and 13.2 +/- 3.4 mm/min, respectively. Surgical removal of the lacrimal gland or the third eyelid gland from the left eye resulted in decreased Schirmer tear test-I values. Clinical signs of keratoconjunctivitis sicca were not seen until the lacrimal and third eyelid glands were removed, at which time the Schirmer tear test-I value was close to 0 mm/min. Conjunctival glands (accessory lacrimal glands of Krause and Wolfring) appeared to contribute little to tear production in these cats.
McLaughlin
S A
SA
Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana 61801.
Brightman
A H
AH
Helper
L C
LC
Primm
N D
ND
Brown
M G
MG
Greeley
S
S
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats / Q000502:physiology*; D005088:Exocrine Glands / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009541:Nictitating Membrane / Q000502:physiology*; D013666:Tears / Q000502:physiology*