Schirmer test

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 

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