ObjectiveTo compare basal and reflex tear osmolarity in healthy dogs and to evaluate for correlation among tear film osmolarity, tear production, and tear fern pattern.Animals studiedThe population consisted of 22 healthy adult dogs.ProceduresReflex tear osmolarity was measured in both eyes using the I‐PEN® VET osmometer 30 minutes following the Schirmer tear test (STT‐1) measurement. Subsequently, two minutes following topical anesthetic application, the lacrimal lake and conjunctival fornices were dried, and 3 minutes later, basal tear osmolarity was measured. Tears were extracted from the dye‐free STT‐1 strip by centrifugation, placed on a glass slide, and the ferning pattern was determined by light microscopy. Comparisons between basal and reflex tears were performed with one‐way ANOVA. Correlations between tear osmolarity, STT‐1, and tear ferning were verified by Pearson's correlation coefficient.ResultsNo statistical difference was found between right and left eyes for STT‐1, tear fern pattern, and osmolarity of reflex or basal tears (P < .05). There was no statistical difference between osmolarity of basal and reflex tears among individuals (P < .05). No correlation was detected between tear fern pattern and osmolarity of reflex tears. A weak positive correlation was detected between STT‐1 values and osmolarity of reflex, but not basal tears.ConclusionsThe osmolarity of basal tears did not differ from that of reflex tears. A positive weak correlation exists between tear production and osmolarity of reflex tears. No correlation was detected between tear osmolarity measured by handheld osmometer and tear ferning.

Captive brown brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira) were manually restrained to assess tear production by the Schirmer tear test I to measure intraocular pressure by applanation tonometry, to examine ocular conjunctival epithelial cells via cytologic and histologic samples, and to survey ocular conjunctival microflora by microbiologic culture. The mean value for the Schirmer tear test I was 8.9 +/- 1.8 mm/min, and the mean intraocular pressure was 15.3 +/- 3.1 mm Hg. Conjunctival epithelium contained stratified pavimentous layers of cells, and the microflora consisted of predominantly gram-positive bacteria.

RESUMO.-[Ultrassonografia em modo A e B na avaliação pré-operatória da lente e do segmento posterior de olhos de cães com catarata.] A ultrassonografia do segmento posterior do bulbo do olho é etapa indispensá-vel na avaliação de cães com catarata que serão submetidos à facectomia, uma vez que a oftalmoscopia não é factível quando há opacificação da lente, notadamente nas cataratas maduras. Este estudo avaliou as condições ecográficas da lente cataratogênica e do fundo de olho de cães cursando com catarata. Foram avaliados 30 cães (56 olhos), sendo 10 machos e 20 fêmeas, cursando com catarata em diferentes estágios de desenvolvimento. Realizou-se a ecografia em modo A e B simultaneamente. Os exames revelaram catarata cortical anterior, posterior e nuclear em 12 olhos (21,4%), catarata cortical anterior, posterior, nuclear e capsular posterior em 23 olhos (41%), catarata cortical anterior, posterior e capsular posterior em um olho (1,7%), catarata cortical anterior e nuclear Ultrasonography of the lens and posterior segment is an indispensable step in the preoperative evaluation of dogs with cataracts, since ophthalmoscopy is not feasible when there is opacification of the lens. This study evaluated the echographic conditions of cataractous lens and fundus of the eye in dogs affected by cataracts. The study was conducted in 30 dogs (56 eyes), 10 males and 20 females, with different types of cataracts at different stages of development. Echography in A and B modes, simultaneously, was carried out for the examination of the lens and posterior segment. The examinations revealed anterior cortical, posterior cortical and nuclear cataract in 12 eyes (21.4%), anterior cortical, posterior cortical, nuclear and posterior capsular in 23 eyes (41%), anterior cortical, posterior cortical and posterior capsular cataract in one eye (1.7%), anterior cortical and nuclear cataract in one eye (1.7%), anterior cortical, nuclear and posterior capsular cataract in five eyes (8.9%), and anterior cortical cataract in seven eyes (12.5%). Abnormal ultrasonographic alterations were observed in the posterior segment in 26 eyes evaluated (46.4%). Vitreal degeneration was detected in 12 eyes (21.4%), images of vitreal exudate or hemorrhage in seven eyes (12.5%), persistence of hyaloid artery in four eyes (7.1%) and lens subluxation in three eyes (5.3%). The results obtained reiterate the importance of ultrasonography in canine patients presented for cataract surgery given that alterations of the posterior segment are difficult to identify in a clinical examination when the lens is opacified. em um olho (1,7%), catarata cortical anterior, nuclear e capsular posterior em cinco olhos (8,9%) e catarata cortical anterior em sete olhos (12,5%). Alterações no segmento posterior foram observadas, à ultrassonografia, em 26 olhos avaliados (46,4%). Degeneração vítrea foi detectada em 12 olhos (21,4%), imagens compatíveis com exsudato ou hemorragia em sete olhos (12,5%), persistência da artéria hialóide em quatro olhos (7,1%) e subluxação da lente em t...

Tear film disorders in dogs can Key words: d o g s , t e a r f i l m , k e r a t o c o n j u n c t i v i t i s s i c c a , lacrimomimetics, lacrimostimulants, immunosuppressors. RESUMO

Corneal healing involves a complex interaction of multiple proteinases, growth factors, and cytokines, which coordinate cell death, migration, proliferation, and differentiation, as well as extracellular matrix remodeling. 1 To maintain the corneal stroma's collagen and proteoglycan structure following ulceration, an equilibrium between