Corneal sensitivity and tear production in 108 horses with ocular disease

To compare corneal sensitivity and tear production in horses with keratitis to horses with other ocular disease.

Retrospective medical record review was used to identify equine patients presented during a 1-year period for an ocular complaint who had Schirmer Tear Test (STT) or Corneal Touch Threshold (CTT) measured. Variables studied included patient age and sex; affected eye; category of presenting ocular complaint (keratitis vs. other ocular complaint); STT; and CTT. Patients with a complaint of ulcerative keratitis, immune-mediated keratitis, and stromal abscess were categorized in the keratitis group. Patients with a complaint of uveitis, as well as lid, lens, or retinal disease, were categorized in the group having other ocular disease. For patients presenting more than once in 2013, only the first visit at which STT or CTT was measured was included. For patients with bilateral disease, STT and CTT of both eyes were averaged.

A total of 108 patients were included, 45 with keratitis and 63 with other ocular disease. Average age was 13.65 years, with more males (77) than females (31). Adjusted for age, STT in affected eyes did not differ significantly between the two groups (keratitis = 29.92 mm/min; other ocular disease = 27.96 mm/min), but CTT was significantly lower in patients with keratitis (33.78 mm) than in patients with other ocular disease (40.10 mm).

Corneal sensitivity may be decreased in patients with keratitis. It is not known whether this is a cause or an effect of corneal disease.