SIGNIFICANCE OF TEAR FUNCTION-TEST ABNORMALITIES

Abstract

A variety of tear function tests (rose bengal staining, marginal tear strip, break-up time, Schirmer's test and tear lysozyme) were performed on a group of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The results obtained with each particular test were compared with present symptoms relating to dry eyes (spontaneous symptoms of: grittiness, dryness, epiphora, discharge and use of ocular medications). Correlations between different tests and symptoms are presented. It is suggested that the diagnosis of dry eyes should be made on the finding of a number of abnormalities of tear function tests rather than on the findings of one test alone.