We found that in the absence of SPP expression in the eye: 1) virus replication was significantly reduced in the eyes of infected Pax6-SPP-/- mice than in WT control mice; 2) latency and reactivation in infected Pax6-SPP-/- mice was similar to that in WT control mice; and 3) corneal scarring and angiogenesis in infected Pax6-SPP-/- mice at various time points post infection was significantly lower than in WT control mice, and corneal sensitivity was significantly higher in the absence of SPP than in WT control mice. Here, PAX6 is linked to infection.