Evaluation of the Schirmer tear test in clinically normal rabbits

Mean (+/- SD) value for results of the Schirmer tear test without use of topical anesthesia on 142 rabbit eyes was 5.30 (+/- 2.96) mm/min; range was 15 mm/min, with low value of 0 and high value of 15 mm/min. Two SD from the mean provided a normal clinical range of 0 to 11.2 mm/min for inclusion of 95% of the population. Significant differences were not evident between eye (right vs left) or gender or among breeds; interaction among eye, gender, and breed also was not observed. Although mean values for 2 breeds were significantly different from values in the other 10 breeds and from each other, they were still within the proposed normal range of 2 SD. The Schirmer tear test without topical anesthesia may be useful in rabbits for evaluation of increased values correlated with ocular irritation, rather than for determination of decreased values associated with keratoconjunctivitis sicca.