This test is used when the eye doctor suspects you have dry eye.
Purpose:
Measure total tear secretions
Procedure:
1. Uses a 5 x 35 mm strip of whatman-41 filter paper.
2. At 5 mm end of filter paper, a fold is present
3. Fold end of filter paper is place in lower fornix at the junction of lateral one-third and medial two-thirds.
4. Patient looks up and avoids blinking or closing eyes for 5 minutes.
Measurement:
After 5 minutes, the doctor removes the filter paper and measures how much of it has become moist.
Wetting of filter paper from 5 mm end | Grade |
>15 mm | Normal |
10 mm | Mild kerato conjunctivitis sicca (KCS) |
5 mm | Moderate KCS |
<5 mm | Severe KCS |
Other tests for dry eye disease-
1. Tear film break up
2. Schirmer-I test
3. Rose bengal staining
Reference:
1. Comprehensive ophthalmology, A K Khurana, 7th edition, P. No. 407