Tear Production and Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca in Wildlife and Exotic Species

Abstract

This review paper provides a summary of the anatomy, physiology and pathology of the tear film: its production sites, composition and function, as well as the causes, clinical signs and treatment of keratoconjuncitivitis sicca in veterinary medicine. The paper focuses on reports of schirmer tear test in exotic and wildlife species, as well as reports of keratoconjunctivitis in these species. It is hypothesized that in some wildlife species, especially those of the Cervidae (deer) family, low baseline tear production values predispose the animals to keratoconjunctivitis, thus accounting for the high number of reports of this disease in wildlife ruminants.