Effect of topical 1% tropicamide on Schirmer tear test results in clinically normal horses.

The research studies the impact of 1% tropicamide, an eye medication, on tear production in horses. The results indicate significantly reduced tear production after treatment.

Objectives and Methods of the Study

• The main aim of this study was to investigate the influence of 1% tropicamide ophthalmic solution on the Schirmer tear test (STT) results in horses.
• Fourteen adult horses were included in this experiment. Each horse received a drop of 1% tropicamide in one eye, while the other eye acted as a control.
• The tear production in each eye was gauged at different intervals: 1, 2, 4, 6, and 24 hours following tropicamide administration.

Key Findings

• The study found that administering tropicamide resulted in a significant reduction in STT values in the treated eyes, beginning as soon as 1 hour post-treatment (p-value=0.002).
• This decrease in tear production continued up to 4 hours after the tropicamide was administered (p-value=0.002).
• In contrast, the untreated eyes (control) of the horses did not show noticeable changes in STT values.

Conclusions

• The research concluded that a single dosage of topical 1% tropicamide leads to a statistically significant drop in tear production in horses.
• This revelation is important as it sheds light on the potential side effects of the medication that veterinarians might need to consider before its application in horses.