Canalicular function during herpetic keratoconjunctivitis in rabbits.

Canalicular function during acute herpetic keratoconjunctivitis was investigated in rabbits. Evidence of partial obstruction of the duct was obtained in the infected as compared with the mock-infected eyes. Direct damage of the ductal epithelium by virus could not be demonstrated by histologic and immunofluorescent studies. Our findings suggest that canalicular dysfunction associated with viral infection may result from accompanying inflammatory changes.