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Home / Equine Research Bank / Acta Vet Scand / Results of the Schirmer tear test performed with open and cl...
Acta veterinaria Scandinavica2017; 59(1); 35; doi: 10.1186/s13028-017-0303-2

Results of the Schirmer tear test performed with open and closed eyes in clinically normal horses.

Abstract: The Schirmer tear test (STT) is widely used in both human and veterinary ophthalmology. Two types of STTs have been developed: STT I and SST II. The STT I measures the basal and reflex tear production and is the most widely used STT. However, several factors influence the STT results such as the person performing the test and the location of the strip placement within the conjunctival sac. The aim of this study was to measure the basal and reflex tear production (STT I) in clinically normal horses with open versus closed eyes. Results: Forty clinically healthy horses without any ocular diseases were included. On day 1, the STT I was first performed on all the horses with the eyes open followed by an STT I with closed eyes performed 30 min later. On day 2, all horses had their eyes closed during the first STT and the eyes open during the second test performed 30 min later. The mean value of the STTs performed on open eye was significantly less than the STT performed on closed eye on both days of examination. Conclusions: This study showed a small but statistically significant difference between STT values obtained with open versus closed eyes in clinically normal horses.
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Publication Date: 2017-05-31 PubMed ID: 28569172PubMed Central: PMC5452394DOI: 10.1186/s13028-017-0303-2Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Observational Study

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The paper studies the difference in tear production in healthy horses in the context of the Schirmer tear test (STT), comparing results from the test with the eyes open versus closed. It concludes there is a small but significant variation in values obtained by these two methods.

Background of the Study

  • The Schirmer tear test (STT) is a standard procedure utilized both in human and veterinary ophthalmology. This research focuses on its application in horses.
  • STT is used to measure tear production, vital for maintaining eye health. Two kinds of STTs have been identified: STT I (which assesses basal and reflex tear production and is more commonly used) and STT II.
  • The study acknowledges that varying factors can affect the results of the STT, including the individual conducting the test and the placement of the strip within the conjunctival sac.

Objective and Methodology

  • The research aimed to measure and compare the results of the STT I in clinically healthy horses with open and closed eyes.
  • The study encompassed forty clinically healthy horses with no ocular diseases.
  • On the first day, the participants underwent the STT I with their eyes open, followed by a second STT I 30 minutes later with their eyes closed.
  • On the second day, the process was reversed; the horses’ eyes were closed for the first STT and open for the second test.

Findings and Conclusion

  • The mean value of the STTs performed on open eyes was considerably lower than that of the STTs taken on closed eyes on both days of examination.
  • The study concluded that while the difference was small, it was statistically significant in differentiating STT values obtained with open versus closed eyes in clinically normal horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Trbolova A, Ghaffari MS. (2017). Results of the Schirmer tear test performed with open and closed eyes in clinically normal horses. Acta Vet Scand, 59(1), 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-017-0303-2

Publication

Acta veterinaria Scandinavica
ISSN: 1751-0147
NlmUniqueID: 0370400
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 59
Issue: 1
Pages: 35
PII: 35

Researcher Affiliations

Trbolova, Alexandra
  • Clinic of Small Animals, University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy, Kosice, Slovakia.
Ghaffari, Masoud Selk
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Karaj Branch, Islamic Azad University, Alborz, Iran. selkghaffari@gmail.com.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Blinking / physiology
  • Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological / veterinary
  • Female
  • Horses / physiology
  • Male
  • Reference Values
  • Tears / metabolism

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Kovaļčuka L, Mūrniece G. Normal reference ranges of ocular physiology and sonographic biometry of Latvian Hunting dogs. Vet World 2019 Apr;13(4):807-811.
    doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2020.807-811pubmed: 32546930google scholar: lookup
  2. Pe'er O, Ofri R, Sebbag L. Schirmer tear test-1 with open or closed eyelids: An evaluation in brachycephalic and nonbrachycephalic dogs. Vet Ophthalmol 2025 Jan;28(1):21-27.
    doi: 10.1111/vop.13222pubmed: 38654458google scholar: lookup
  3. Cinar H, Yanmaz LE, Buyukkaraca N, Kaya Z, Kosuncu M. Comparing the effects of intraocular pressure and tear production measurements in horses in two different environments: Horse stable and medical barn. Equine Vet J 2025 Jan;57(1):271-276.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14067pubmed: 38268120google scholar: lookup
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